The competent organizations of the Arab League approved an initiative prepared by the Arab Organization for Agriculture Developments (AOAD) to address challenges of food security and the exacerbation of agricultural and social crises.
AOAD General Director Ibrahim al-Dukhairi acknowledged the exacerbation of food challenges after the rise in grain, animal, and agricultural product prices because of the proxy wars in several Arab and African countries.
Dukhairi revealed in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that the tensions around the world, the escalation of conflict between Russia and NATO countries, and the war in Sudan further complicated the matter.
He explained that the Arab League Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, decided to support the initiative with Arab financial institutions in implementing the decisions of the Arab summit.
Sudan alone can provide most of the needs of Arab and African countries regarding animal and vegetable food once minimum stability is guaranteed and wars and rebellions have stopped, Dukhairi said.
He denied that the devastating war that Sudan is currently witnessing has directly affected its agricultural and food production, noting that the armed conflicts are concentrated in Khartoum and partly Darfur, not agrarian areas.
However, he warned of the dangers of extending the devastating war and the current rebellion in Sudan and its negative impact on the neighboring countries' harvest season and animal movement.
The initiative aims to push Arab, African, and international capitals to secure agricultural production and transport food inside Sudan to tens of millions of its citizens and all Arab and African countries.
- Sudan's neighbors
Asharq Al-Awsat asked the Director about the connection between the initiative, the outcomes of the Arab Summit, the recent Sudan's neighbors conference in Cairo, and the recent announcement of signs of settling old disputes over the Nile waters and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Dukhairi responded that the meeting supported the initiative, and Aboul Gheit personally announced that he would provide at least $1 billion to support it and to ensure "food security and agricultural production in Sudan."
He said that Sudan is one of the most prominent Arab and African countries with enormous agricultural capabilities if security, peace, and stability are achieved.
The Director expected the relations of Sudan's neighboring countries concerned with the dispute over the Nile waters to develop positively after their leaders' recent meeting in Cairo and the announcement of "opening a new page."
He noted the strategic nature of the Nile water file for the agricultural, food, and decent living sectors in Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, and neighboring countries.
He considered the AOAD's initiative particularly important due to the accumulated dangers of "food scarcity" in light of the war in Sudan and Ukraine.
- Planting 50 billion trees
Furthermore, the official announced in his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that the organization's initiative for developing agricultural and food products regionally and internationally includes combating desertification in old agrarian areas.
It also supports the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's initiative to plant 50 billion new trees in Arab countries, including 10 billion trees inside Saudi Arabia, as part of the Middle East Green initiative.
Dukhairi confirmed that he discussed with representatives of specialized Arab organizations at their annual conference in Tunis ways to mobilize their capabilities and the institutions of the Arab League General Secretariat to save harvest seasons and develop agricultural capabilities in Sudan and all Arab countries.
He revealed that his organization received "strong support" from all Arab countries and the Arab League General Secretariat to contribute to this goal and activate its new comprehensive initiative through its central and regional headquarters in Sudan, Egypt, Algiers, Rabat, Tunis, and Syria.
It receives the support of joint Arab action institutions and all regional and international agricultural, development, and food organizations, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
