Oman joins global alliance to achieve food security
Oman became a member of the Global Dryland Alliance (GDA) headquartered in the Qatari capital, Doha at an event held last week.
The GDA joining document was signed by H E Najeeb Yahya al Balushi, Oman’s Ambassador to Qatar, and Bader al Dafa, executive director of the GDA.
H E Balushi said that the sultanate’s joining the GDA comes to share experiences, knowledge, technological and research innovations with countries and organisations in the region and internationally to achieve food security for the world and to find innovative solutions to face the challenges in this regard.
Speaking on the occasion,
Dafa praised Oman’s strong support for the initiative to establish the alliance, highlighting that the joining of Oman is an added value to the organisation.
Dafa pointed out the opportunities for cooperation between the GDA and Oman in view of its experience in addressing climate change and enhancing food security, not to mention its port and storage logistics facilities that can be put at the disposal of the alliance to intervene in member states in the event of food crises.
He reiterated that the joining of Oman comes weeks after the GDA acquired its observer status at the United Nations, which comes as a recognition from the international community that the alliance can play a vital role in the achievement of sustainable development goals, mainly eradicating poverty and hunger and enhancing peace and security in the world.
The GDA executive director added that GCC countries were among the first to support the organisation as they fully appreciate the importance of finding common solutions to the common challenges in the field of food and water security and utilising renewable energy to sere sustainable development.
The GDA states as its vision to make dryland countries food secure and contribute to stability and peace in the world.
Its mission is to work with local, regional and international partners to identify, disseminate and implement solutions for the agricultural, water and energy challenges of dryland countries.