Mr. Yasmi Yurdi, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative to Ghana, has emphasized the urgent need to tackle water-related issues in both agriculture and urban areas.
He expressed concern about the deteriorating quality of water due to inadequate management, pollution, excessive groundwater extraction, and the effects of climate change.
Mr. Yurdi's remarks come ahead of World Food Day 2023, which will be celebrated under the theme “Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind.” World Food Day is observed on October 16 each year to commemorate the establishment of the United Nations FAO in 1945.
He pointed out that rural-urban migration is a common occurrence as people seek better opportunities in urban centers. Consequently, addressing water-related challenges in these areas is crucial.
Mr. Yurdi stressed the interconnectedness of water with various landscape systems, highlighting that activities in agriculture, domestic use, and forestry affect water resources.
He mentioned that water ecosystems in Ghana have suffered from pollution and deforestation over many decades, demanding effective solutions.
The FAO Representative underscored the pivotal role of water, not only in food production but also in overall well-being and human survival. He stated that without water, life as we know it would not exist.
Mr. Yurdi revealed that the FAO's sustainable agriculture program aims to promote best practices that produce more food while using less land and water. They are also introducing new agricultural technologies and innovations.
In a specific project focused on soybean production and food security in Northern Ghana, the FAO will implement solar panel irrigation to enhance agricultural sustainability.
However, Mr. Yurdi stressed that achieving sustainable water use and management is a collective effort and that the government alone cannot accomplish it.
The FAO is actively supporting the Ghanaian government in adopting new, sustainable technologies for agriculture, reforestation, and sustainable livestock practices.
Mr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General for the Regional Office for Africa, pointed out that more than one-third of the world's population lacks access to safe water, with smallholder farmers, including women, youth, indigenous peoples, migrants, and refugees, being the most vulnerable.
He called for leveraging science, innovation, data, and technology to produce more with less, emphasizing that agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater resources globally, accounting for 70% of consumption.
Mr. Valere Nzeyimana, FAO Senior Regional Water Development and Management Officer, emphasized the need to prioritize water across all sectors of sustainable development, particularly focusing on the synergies between water, energy, and food.
He encouraged the development of national water roadmaps and strategies, as well as greater engagement by the private sector to understand their water supply sources and their critical role in various sectors, including agriculture.
- Reporting by Edward Dankwah: Editing by Adewale Adejoke