On World Food Day, the Sultanate of Oman joined the global community. It recognised the day as a reminder to highlight the critical importance of food and agriculture. World Food Day, observed on October 16, acknowledges global interconnectedness with the planet's resources.
The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR), is observing the day under this year's theme of 'Water is Life, Water is Food.'
The theme resonates with the pressing challenges of rapid population growth, urbanisation, economic development, and the looming spectre of climate change. Precious water resources are facing increasing stress, with a per-person decline in freshwater availability by 20 per cent worldwide over recent decades.
In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries, and Water Resources is engaged in a multifaceted approach to enhance water availability within Oman's borders. This includes the construction of various types of dams, a groundbreaking artificial rain-seeding project, and the rehabilitation and maintenance of Aflaj, the traditional Omani irrigation system. A comprehensive water resource monitoring system and modern irrigation techniques are also being employed, all following an integrated water resources management methodology.
Oman holds a remarkable legacy of over two millennia, marked by the ingenuity of its people in irrigation engineering. The country is the proud inventor of the Aflaj system, a unique irrigation method with a few parallels around the world. Aflaj plays a central role in preserving the social fabric of Omani villages and is interwoven with the nation's history.
In Oman, there are 4,112 Aflaj, collectively supplying approximately 409 million cubic meters of water annually, irrigating around 4,164 hectares of agricultural land. Among these, the primary types of Aflaj include Al Fayliyya aflaj, Al-Miniya aflaj, and Dawoodiyya aflaj (Mediya).
The Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries, and Water Resources has achieved remarkable milestones in water resource monitoring. Staying abreast of scientific progress and harnessing modern technologies, the Ministry uses the global telephone network (GPRS) for efficient data transmission and information dissemination.
It is alarming that today, 2.4 billion people reside in water-stressed countries, with smallholder farmers struggling to meet their daily needs. Approximately 600 million individuals partially rely on aquatic diets for their livelihoods, emphasising the urgent need to address issues like pollution, ecosystem degradation, unsustainable practices, and the far-reaching impacts of climate change.
World Food Day and the World Food Forum in 2023 share a common goal: To catalyse global action towards water conservation, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and food systems. World Food Day, an annual event commemorating the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, serves as a global rallying point for transforming agricultural and food systems.
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