The Second ECO Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture
held at Antalya, Republic of Turkey from 6-7 December 2004
ECO Secretariat, 7 December 2004
PRESS RELEASE
The Second ECO Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture was held on 6-7 December 2004 in Antalya, Republic of Turkey. The Ministers of agriculture and other delegates from the Transitional Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan and Republic of Turkey participated in the meeting. The ECO Secretariat attended the meeting with a delegation headed by H.E. Mr. Askhat Orazbay, Secretary General. The Representatives of FAO and ICARDA also attended the meeting as observers.
The Meeting was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Sami GÜÇLÜ, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. He stressed that the problem of poverty and undernourishment should be addressed through appropriate policies and utilization of rich national resources of the region. He said that the ECO countries need to increase the agriculture production through applying the scientific and technological innovations in order to fulfil their responsibility in solving the world food problems. He underlined the importance of the efficient management of water resources, provision of technical and financial support to agricultural reform programs, updating agriculture sector as to take part in the global competition, and promotion of agricultural trade in achieving sustainable agriculture development.
The Secretary General of ECO, H.E. Mr. Askhat Orazbay, in his statement, while expressing his thanks to the Republic of Turkey for hosting the meeting mentioned challenges in the field of agriculture like increasing demand for food and other agricultural products, growing threats to genetic diversity and degradation of land and water resources, spread of pests and animal diseases, inadequate investment in agriculture sector. He said that the development of agricultural cooperation has been on the agenda of the ECO and its activities in the field of agriculture are gradually shifting from decision making and planning stage to the implementation of projects.
During the meeting the Ministers/Heads of delegations emphasized to strengthen regional cooperation for sustainable growth of agricultural production of the region through improving water and land productivities, application of new technologies and agricultural management and harmonization of their policies in the field of agriculture.
The Ministers of Agriculture of the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) reviewed the recent developments and the progress in ECO cooperation on agriculture and related areas of common interest and follow up of the first ECO ministerial meeting on agriculture held in 2002 in Islamabad.
Also the ministerial meeting approved the Antalya Declaration on ECO cooperation in agriculture. Antalya declaration provided a framework for further cooperation of ECO member states on agriculture and declared the objectives of the ECO cooperation in the field of agriculture as achieving sustainable agricultural development in the region through cooperation and joint action.
The meeting also approved the ECO Plan of Action on Drought Management finalized by the first ECO Senior Officials Meeting on Agriculture held in July 2004 in Tehran.
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