The Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and ACSAD’s Director-General / Discussions
His Excellency, the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadly, and His Excellency, the Director-General of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dryland, have discussed the cooperation affairs and the ways to enhance and develop them in various areas.
In the beginning, His Excellency, the Saudi Minister, has welcomed ACSAD’s Director-General in the Ministry’s headquarters at Riayadh, praising the projects and activities implemented by ACSAD in Saudi Arabia since it is a house of experience and has the knowledge and expertise inclusive in the reality of agriculture and water in the Arab region generally, and in Saudi Arabia particularly.
The discussions have tackled the ways of implementing several developmental projects within the Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman’s initiative “Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East”, which is the first initiative at the global level to reduce climate change in the region, implement projects to achieve sustainable development, combat desertification, restore lands, producing fodder from agricultural waste, develop valleys, pasture as well, and water harvesting, in addition to implementing the third phase of the “ Green Belts” project.
Furthermore, It has been agreed to send a group of excellent experts working in ACSAD in the relevant fields to implement the projects and technical and practical programs agreed upon them, in addition, to opening ACSAD office to follow up the projects in the area as well as constructing a nursery for seed and fruit trees production like Pistachios, Almonds, and Olive provided abundantly by ACSAD.
The Director-General has expressed ACSAD’s readiness to provide the kingdom with the improved heads of Shami goats and Awasi sheep of high productivity of meat and wool, constructing artificial insemination laboratory to produce semen straws, providing frozen embryos and training the specialists to support livestock development and genetic improvement, as well as supplying Saudi Arabia with ACSAD’s varieties of Wheat and Barley (1105 -1133) and other legumes of high productivity and resilience to environmental stresses, drought, heat, and disease tolerance.
The discussions also have tackled the means to support implementing conservation agriculture and preparing the groundwater mathematical models in Saudi Arabia.
Moreover, the ACSAD’s Director-General, Dr Nasr Edin Obaid, has discussed with the concerned deputy ministers the scientific and technical cooperation and the ways to implement joint projects, activities and the necessary procedures.
At the end of the meeting, Dr Obaid expressed his gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency, the Saudi Minister, who afforded this opportunity to meet him since he has excellent experience, a good reputation, and history of well-known and distinguished activities and experiences. Dr Obaid also noted the most significant role of Saudi Arabia in the process of joint Arab work to upgrade it to the level of ambitions, goals, and expectations that suit it historically, presently, and future.
