2024-07-28 17:34:11
An integrated approach to engineering and technological measures will enable Azerbaijan to effectively cope with water shortages.
As reported on Thursday by Day.Az with reference to Trend, this was stated by the Netherlands’ special envoy for water resources, Meike van Ginneken, during a training session at ADA University.
“Looking at the measures proposed in the World Bank report on Azerbaijan, three main categories can be distinguished. First, engineering and technological measures. Improving the efficiency of irrigation on farms becomes important in conditions of water shortage. The Azerbaijani government is seeking to expand the area under irrigation, but this requires redoubling efforts to improve water efficiency and reduce leakages. Rehabilitation and modernization of the hydraulic infrastructure, much of which was built during the Soviet era, is also an important task,” said Meike van Ginneken.
Secondly, it is spatial planning, she said.
“The report highlights the need to reform agricultural subsidies so that they contribute to climate change adaptation. Globally, agricultural subsidies amount to about $680 billion a year and are often misdirected. As a result, 70 percent of deforestation is linked to agricultural subsidies. By reforming agricultural subsidies, including in Azerbaijan, it is possible to change cropping patterns, persuade farmers to use less water-intensive crops and help small farmers adapt to new conditions. Currently, most subsidies, both in Azerbaijan and in other countries, go to large producers. Thus, an integrated approach to engineering and technology measures, spatial planning and reforming agricultural subsidies will allow Azerbaijan to effectively cope with water scarcity and increase the resilience of agriculture to climate change,” the special envoy added.