Saudi Arabia Pumps $2bn for Agriculture In Muslim Countries

Saudi Arabia is to pump 2 million dollars into efforts to improve agricultural output and food security among Muslim countries.

Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli who is also chairman of Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) said the contribution was aimed at enhancing organization’s work and adoption of food security strategies by all its member countries.

Al-Fadhli’s announcement of the funding came during the second session of IOFS’ general assembly in Jeddah.

The minister said Saudi Arabia attached great importance to agricultural development, environment and food security in all its policies relating to national, regional and global food security.

Secretary-General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation OIC Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen said that “the organization was working to implement a comprehensive policy to develop agricultural products and food security and improve Islamic environmental cooperation in the food and agriculture sectors.”

He added that food security was one of the highest priorities of OIC, particularly as the economies of most of its member states were based on agriculture, with the sector accounting for about 12 percent of their GDP.