The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will allocate $66.7 million to implement the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) technical assistance projects in the kingdom, according to an agreement signed Thursday at FAO Headquarters during its regional conference for the Near East. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by FAO Assistant Director-General for Technical Cooperation Laurent Thomas and Deputy Minister for Agriculture of Saudi Arabia Khaled Al Fuhaid in the presence of Minister of Agriculture Dr. Fahd bin Abdulrahman Balughnaim and FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva. From 2012 to 2016, FAO will provide technical assistance and expertise for 17 specific projects in Saudi Arabia that will cover several areas under the plan. “This will include the transfer of technology, sustainable management of natural resources including water and forests, sustainable crop production and protection, the rational management of animal and fisheries resources, animal health, capacity building and the strengthening of rural institutions,” a statement from FAO said.
