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| 'Libya has modernised agriculture'
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Tripoli, Libya(PANA) -
Libya deployed considerable efforts over the past decades
to modernise
its agriculture and promote the commercialisation of agricultural products throu
gh a sustainable management of
natural resources, a study on the country's national food security strategy has
shown.
Published by the Libyan General People's Committee for Agriculture and Environme
nt, the study reveals a
substantial increase of some food products and their accessibility to consumers.
It shows that while wheat production went down from 99,000 tonnes in 2000 to 42,
000 in 2007, and barley production
from 324,000 tonnes to 244,000 tonnes over the same period, the production of ot
her agricultural products such as tubers went up
from 3,000 tonnes to 3,500 tonnes.
Also, the production of vegetables slightly increased from 1,226 tonnes in 2000
to 1,260 in 2007; potatoes
from 286,000 tonnes to 290,000 tonnes over the same period; fruits from 365,000
tonnes to 386,000 tonnes and dates
from 103,000 tonnes to 130,000 tonnes.
Meanwhile, meat production increased from 163,000 tonnes in 2000 to 189,000 tonn
es in 2007 while milk production
increased by 40 million litres from 270 million litres to 310 million litres ove
r the same period.
Fish production also increased from 18,600 tonnes in 2000 to 20,000 tonnes in 20
07.
Despite the impressive performances, the study details certain challenges facing
agriculture in Libya, including water resources,
adaptation to global changes, support for technological development, climate cha
nge and the limitation of arable lands.
The study noted that in order to achieve self-sufficiency and security in food p
roduction, Libya must produce 568,000 tonnes
of wheat per year and raise production of vegetables to 1.3 million tonnes per a
nnum.
The production of 316 tonnes of fruits with the introduction of new varieties, t
he extension of the planting of date trees,
olive trees in high-rainfall areas and the promotion of the production of meat,
milk and poultry products are also key to achieving food
self-sufficiency in Libya by the year 2025.
The study said Libya could also invest in zones where there is water abundance i
n Africa and engage in the growing of wheat, rice, sugar, oil
plants soya and sunflower, cocoa, banana and other tropical fruits through a con
cession contract lasting from 25 to 99 years.
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| Tripoli - 07/09/2009 |
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