FAO will assist Kuwait in establishing a reference centre for studies and research on wastewater treatment and reuse, the UN agency said Wednesday. Treated wastewater has potential benefits, particularly in water-scarce countries, as a non-conventional water resource for agricultural and other applications.
The research centre will be created to promote exchange of experience on the management of treated wastewater and technical know-how, mainly among Middle Eastern countries, and to foster studies and research on wastewater treatment and re-use, with a special focus on agriculture.
Kuwait is known to be the most water-scarce country in the world, where renewable water resources are estimated to be almost negligible, according to FAO.
In another Technical Cooperation project, FAO will also assist in setting up a medium-term programme for agriculture and fisheries development in Kuwait. The project is expected to concentrate on crop production, organic farming, livestock production and fisheries.
In Kuwait, where desert land is mainly sandy and barren, the total cultivated area is limited to 7,050 hectares out of a total arable land of about 143,000 hectares.
Agriculture (including fisheries) accounts for only 0.5% of gross domestic product (GDP). Livestock production contributes some 67% to agricultural GDP, compared to 23% for plant production and 10% for fisheries. (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
