Conferences and debates
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The Water Shortage in Palestine and Jordan
From April 01, 2013 until April 08, 2013
On Monday, April 8 in Madrid, a round table discussion will be hold on the topic of "Facing the Water Shortage in the Palestinian Territories and Jordan: the use of unconventional water sources in agriculture." The Fundación Promoción Social de la Cultura has organized this round table discussion of the problems related with water shortages in the Middle East, and more specifically in Jordan and Palestine.
The round table discussion, which will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Casa Árabe Auditorium (address: Calle Alcalá, 62) constitutes and attempt to present ideas and information amongst experts and specialists on this topic. The speakers’ presentations will not last longer than 20 minutes, and afterwards a debate will be held among those participating and attending.
The event will include participation in the round table discussion by Mr. Abdellatif M.A Mohamed, Assistant Director of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC) in the Palestine Territories; Basem Shamoun, Project Director of the Jordan Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) of Jordan; Isabel Martín, Director of the Water Quality Department at the Center for New Water Technologies; Inmaculada Paniagua, Director of the Water and Sanitation Section of the Sectorial Cooperation Department of Spain’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
Water is essential to socio-economic development and the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem. The United Nations defines a water shortage as the point at which the aggregate impact of all users, under a specific institutional order, affects the supply or quality of water in such a way that the demand from all sectors, including the environmental sector, cannot be fully satisfied.
In the Middle East, the region which suffers the greatest scarcity of water in the world, access to water sources is growing more and more difficult due to the increase in population, which leads to greater consumption, as well as climate change and, in some cases, as occurs in the Palestinian Territories, the difficulties in accessing aquifer resources caused by the situation of conflict in the area. The agricultural sector is that which uses the most water resources. Irrigation-based agriculture accounts for the majority of water demand in the Palestinian Territories and Jordan, and is the number one sector affected by water shortages. As a result, these countries face a decrease in their ability to maintain the proper per-capita food production. Their water resources are mostly monopolized by domestic needs and industry.
It is therefore essential to create strategies which maximize the economic and social benefits of these limited water resources, while at the same time improving productivity in the agricultural sector, with irrigation-based agriculture being an important motor for economic growth and reducing poverty. Fundamental change is required in water management and policies throughout the entire farming production chain to ensure the best possible use of water resources, thereby responding to the growing demand for foods and other agricultural products.
The event will include participation in the round table discussion by Mr. Abdellatif M.A Mohamed, Assistant Director of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC) in the Palestine Territories; Basem Shamoun, Project Director of the Jordan Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) of Jordan; Isabel Martín, Director of the Water Quality Department at the Center for New Water Technologies; Inmaculada Paniagua, Director of the Water and Sanitation Section of the Sectorial Cooperation Department of Spain’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
Water is essential to socio-economic development and the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem. The United Nations defines a water shortage as the point at which the aggregate impact of all users, under a specific institutional order, affects the supply or quality of water in such a way that the demand from all sectors, including the environmental sector, cannot be fully satisfied.
In the Middle East, the region which suffers the greatest scarcity of water in the world, access to water sources is growing more and more difficult due to the increase in population, which leads to greater consumption, as well as climate change and, in some cases, as occurs in the Palestinian Territories, the difficulties in accessing aquifer resources caused by the situation of conflict in the area. The agricultural sector is that which uses the most water resources. Irrigation-based agriculture accounts for the majority of water demand in the Palestinian Territories and Jordan, and is the number one sector affected by water shortages. As a result, these countries face a decrease in their ability to maintain the proper per-capita food production. Their water resources are mostly monopolized by domestic needs and industry.
It is therefore essential to create strategies which maximize the economic and social benefits of these limited water resources, while at the same time improving productivity in the agricultural sector, with irrigation-based agriculture being an important motor for economic growth and reducing poverty. Fundamental change is required in water management and policies throughout the entire farming production chain to ensure the best possible use of water resources, thereby responding to the growing demand for foods and other agricultural products.
