Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, Abdelmonem Belati, on Monday called on developed countries to honour the "USD 100 billion per year" commitment made in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009 to mobilise public and private funds for developing countries from 2020 to finance their efforts to combat climate change.

This commitment has not yet been met, he said at an action workshop organised in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to mark World Food Day, which this year is being celebrated under the theme "Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind".

He stressed the need to take the necessary measures to help countries affected by climate change, including Tunisia, to combat the effects of these changes, which are largely caused by industrialised countries.

The Minister pointed out that climate change has had a major impact on Tunisia, which is experiencing its seventh year of drought, causing a sharp deterioration in water resources and reducing the grain harvest for 2023 to 0.3 million tonnes, compared to an average of around 1.2 to 1.5 million tonnes.

Belati also emphasised the urgent need to implement the strategy of rationalising drinking water consumption and promoting the production of food products that consume little water, saying that his department would give priority to ensuring the availability of drinking water through the use of seawater desalination.

The Ministry will also increase the use of treated water, whose potential is estimated at between 300 and 350 million m3 per year nationwide, to meet the needs of the agricultural sector.

For his part, Abderraouf Ajimi, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture, pointed out that the amount of water allocated to the regions is planned according to the needs of each region in order to cope with water stress. "The ministry is working to optimise the management of available water resources in order to save farms and ensure the continuity of agricultural activity."

He urged farmers to use irrigation equipment to conserve water, pointing out that the Investment Law had introduced premiums for farmers who wished to purchase such equipment.

He noted that the Ministry is currently working to raise the necessary funds for these subsidies, which cover between 30 and 50% of the cost of the equipment.

Philippe Ankers, Coordinator of the Subregional Office for North Africa and FAO Representative in Tunisia, said that FAO recognises that the countries of North Africa, including Tunisia, are severely affected by climate change, pointing out that ensuring the quality and availability of water is an essential condition for achieving food security.

He stressed the importance of “putting an end to food waste and rethinking the nature and production methods of the food we eat,” warning of the collapse of water systems around the world.

While noting that 29.6 per cent of the world's population, or 2.4 billion people, are moderately or severely food insecure, Ankers said climate change has widened the gap between the world's countries in terms of food security.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse