The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Archives - Iran News Daily

Drought Lake Urmia under FAO investigation

reporter 1222 — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 05:54:52 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – The initial findings of a drought vulnerability and impact assessment in the Lake Urmia basin conducted to help the implementation of an integrated drought management system in the region have been further reexamined and validated by FAO and Iranian experts in Tehran.

As a critical component of the “Integrated Program for Sustainable Water Resources in the Lake Urmia basin,” this assessment helps the Iranian stakeholders to be equipped with a shared understanding of drought impact on the livelihoods of the population living in the drought prone areas, reported fao.org.

Funded by the Government of Japan and technically facilitated by FAO, this program aims to put in place an integrated drought management system based on risk/vulnerability assessment and preparedness response for the Lake Urmia basin.

This endeavor will help the country to implement a systematic mechanism for drought mitigation and adaptation at the basin level.

Hosted by Iran Meteorological Organization (IRIMO) and Lake Urmia Restoration Program (ULRP), the validation workshop was attended by a group of experts from FAO, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Environment, Sharif University of Technology, Iran University of Science and Technology, Atmospheric Science & Meteorological Research Center, Remote Sensing Research Center, and Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization.

Discussing different aspects of the study, the participants examined in details the maps and scenarios developed to assess the impact of drought as well as their potential applications in drought management in the region. The attendants also scrutinized the calculated indices under five capital categories (natural, financial, physical, human, and social) of the vulnerability impact assessment.

“The results of the study, conducted by National Drought Warning and Monitoring Center (NDWMC) in collaboration with FAO and ULRP, will help the decision-makers to take sound measures during drought periods,” said Hengameh Shiravand, a senior expert at NDWMC. Adding that the development of drought vulnerability maps is “the initial step towards implementing a comprehensive approach towards drought management in the country.”

Mohammad Vesal, FAO consultant and a researcher at the Sharif University of Technology, said that the findings revealed how underprivileged households are vulnerable to climate variabilities over long-term periods, indicating that the scope of drought impacts goes beyond agricultural activities. He emphasized that the results will help policymakers make proper decisions regarding the livelihoods of the affected population in the region.

FAO, as the lead UN agency dedicated to increasing food and agricultural development, assists countries to increase the resilience of households and communities to more effectively cope with threats and disasters that impact agriculture and their livelihoods.

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Iran, FAO Joint Program off to Aid Afghan Refugees

reporter 1222 — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 13:20:21 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran Bureau of Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO, and World Food Programme established a greenhouse as a joint program in Semnan province, located around 220 km east of capital Tehran, to help Afghan refugees.

Financially and technically supported by FAO, the joint program in Iran would enable the Afghan refugees to generate income through agricultural practices.

“The selected refugees will gradually be empowered to manage the greenhouse independently. They will be advised, and equipped with necessary skill to cultivate various ornamental and edible plants in the greenhouse,” said Hooman Moezzi, FAO Programme Consultant.

He further said that “greenhouse cultivation will allow the refugees to have higher control on growth conditions and produce off-season products based on the periodic market demand.”

FAO, as a UN specialized agency, leads efforts to defeat hunger, improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, raise the standard of living in rural populations and contribute to economic growth.

Iran hosts nearly a million Afghan refugees. Approximately 97% of these refugees live in urban and semi-urban areas, while the remaining 3% reside in 20 refugee settlements located throughout the country.

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FAO and DOE launch a joint programme to strengthen Iran’s national capacity to access Green Climate Fund for adaptation and mitigation actions

reporter 1222 — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 12:32:14 +0000

Organized in four sessions on 04 and 05 August 2019 in DOE premises, the Inception Workshop was attended by experts and scholars from FAO, DOE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture Jahad, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Petroleum, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, the Meteorological Organization and other relevant key partners from public and private sectors.

Participants discussed a coordination platform to engage all relevant stakeholders. The experts also defined necessary strategic investment criteria for prioritizing climate investments and a strategy to ensure that adaptation and mitigation actions will benefit all key stakeholders especially women, youth and children.

Speaking at the event, FAO Representative to Iran, Mr Gerold Bödeker thanked DOE, GCF and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the support extended to this Programme and congratulated all participating agencies and stakeholders on developing collective views on strategic priorities for Iran’s access to climate finance and actions to strengthen coordinated actions. He emphasized the importance of climate smart agriculture that encompasses sustainable forest and other natural resources management, saying that FAO is looking forward to further collaboration with national and international partners to mitigate climate change threats.

Coordinated by FAO and funded by GCF, this Readiness Programme supports the establishment of National Designated Authority Office within the Department of Environment to improve Iran’s climate change investment planning, decision-making mechanisms and act as the coordination body for developing, appraising and financing programmes and projects that aim to adapt and mitigate climate change.

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