A new blueprint that addresses Bahrain’s food security challenges is expected to be approved by the Cabinet in the coming months, revealed a top official. Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said achieving food self-sufficiency remains high on the government agenda.
Twenty locations have been earmarked for food security projects that focus on hydroponics and aquaculture. “Bahrain imports 90 per cent of its food supplies and the contribution of agricultural and fishing activities to the GDP has been the same for the past decade,” said Shaikh Khalid.
“Our crucial goal is to ensure food and water supplies and the leadership understands this challenge. It has instructed all government branches and private enterprises to direct capital to food security projects.”
Shaikh Khalid was speaking during the opening of the fourth edition of Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) online forum, under the theme "Strategies of achieving food security: Challenges and opportunities".
“I am happy to announce that we have set up a committee comprising members from the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
“I look forward to the Cabinet approval of a strategy in the second half of the year that encourages a decrease in food wastage, better use of agricultural technology, and increase in food security.”
“We would like to see Bahrain among the self-sufficient group of nations with relation to food supplies,” he added. The Global Food Security Index 2019 (GFSI) had ranked Bahrain 50th globally on the list of most food-secure nations in the world. “Our aim is to reach the 25th spot by 2030,” said Shaikh Khalid.
Read the complete article at www.zawya.com.