Africa-Press – Eritrea. Asmara, World Foord Day and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty were simultaneously observed today, 16 October under the theme “Water is Life, Water is Food” and “Dignity in Practice for All” respectively.
At the ceremony conducted at national level in Embaderho in which Ministers, senior Government and PFDJ officials, representatives of UN offices, members of the diplomatic community and invited guests took part, Mr. Arefaine Berhe, Minister of Agriculture, noting that agriculture, industry and our daily activities are placing an unprecedented strain on water resources, said that the Government of Eritrea since independence has been launching serious programs on soil and water conservation in general and building different sizes of dams in particular and thus the number of reservoirs has grown by eight times.
Minister Arefaine went on to say that as a result crop production has increased by two times while vegetables and fruits have increased by 6 times and 71 times respectively.
Minister Arefaine also said that considering the preciousness of water and its scarcity, the world is going through “drop per crop” philosophy in order to utilize water judiciously, Eritrea is following the trend by constantly shifting from furrow irrigation to pressurized irrigation.
Mr. Aeneas Chuma, UN Resident Coordinator in Eritrea, said that some 780 million people around the world are going hungry, almost fifty million children are at risk of death from sever wasting and yet funding for this year’s global humanitarian appeal stands at just 32 percent.
Mr. Aeneas Chuma also said that Eritrea’s journey in water and resource management and poverty eradication is an inspiring story of progress.
At the event various representatives of institutions and UN offices addressed the gathering.
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