United Nations, 22 mar (EFE).-the Secretary general of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, asked today to initiate policies of management of water resources for a more sustainable use and Governments to ensure food and nutrition security for all.
Ban on the occasion of the world water day which this year takes place under the slogan “the water and food security”, pointed out that the “most important finite resource” that is has “be used more sustainably” in the coming decades.
The UN Chief stressed that we will have to increase food production to feed a world population increasing and ensure food and nutritional security,.
Also recalled that agriculture is the main user of freshwater and stressed that unless increasing ability to use water wisely in agriculture, it may not end hunger and “opens the door to problems such as drought, famine and political instability”.
Added in his message that does not face the situation is difficult achieve fundamental rights to food, water and sanitation.
According to UN data, 11% of the world’s population (783 million) lack access to safe drinking water, and of them around 40% belong to countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
The planet currently has 7,000 million, which will increase by two billion by 2050.
UN recalled that although each person drinks daily from 2 to 4 litres of water, most of which is swallowed is incorporated in the food that is consumed: produce 1 kilo of beef, for example, requires 15,000 liters of water, and for a kilo of wheat, 1,500 liters.
Ban warned that water is scarce each time and that have reduced the rates of increase in agricultural production, while climate change exacerbates risk and unpredictability for farmers, especially low-income countries.
“with nearly 1,000 million people who suffer from hunger and some 800 million people who do not yet have a safe drinking water supply, much is what we must do to strengthen the foundations of local, national and global stability”, stressed the head of the UN.
To ensure food and water security requested the full participation of all sectors and actors, as well as the transfer of appropriate water technologies empower small producers of food and maintain essential ecosystem services.
Also called on Governments to implement policies for the promotion of the right to water for all, greater regulatory capacity and the gender equality, as well as increased investment in water infrastructure, rural development and water resources management.
“In this world water day urge all partners to take full advantage of the opportunity provided by the United Nations Conference on sustainable development (RÃo+20)”, said Ban.
Added that in this meeting, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in June, the international community must “establish the link between water security and food and nutritional security in the context of a green economy”. EFE
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