Arab countries participating in the Third International Conference on Water Resources and Environment agreed in Riyadh to put a joint Arab strategy with operational mechanisms to overcome the problem of water scarcity. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mahmoud Abu-Zeid said in a press statement that an Arab paper would be presented at the Fifth World Forum on Water in Istanbul. The paper would explain the water situation in Arab countries and suggestions for cooperation so as to take advantage of scientific research in this regard.
“The Ministry of Irrigation is currently preparing for all scenarios projected for climate change in Egypt and the Nile Basin countries so as to reduce its negative impact,” Abu-Zeid said.
The minister pointed out that the Arab countries have developed operational plans to address the problem of limited water resources through the application of appropriate crop structures and reduction of crops of high water consumption, such as rice and sugar cane, while developing drought-tolerant and low water consumption crops so as to reduce the risks of climate changes and limited water resources. The minister added that the Arab delegations also agreed on the expansion of seawater desalination projects to provide drinking water through the use of modern technologies at low cost, pointing to the need to identify new technologies to address desertification and reduce the effects of drought by taking advantage of other countries' experience in this field, especially South America.
