Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, Alexander Iotzev held a meeting with Mr. Adham Zainaldin, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the State of Palestine in our country in the Republic of Bulgaria. At the meeting, both officials discussed the possibilities for cooperation in the field of agriculture with an emphasis put on the need of making joint efforts to ensure food security. Furthermore, it was emphasized that all prerequisites for a successful exchange of goods, expert staff, good practices and technologies are in place; therefore, efforts will be made to expand direct contacts. The Palestinian side highlighted the need to create a mechanism for the practical implementation of the 2012 Protocol on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture and Forestry signed between the Ministries of Agriculture of the two countries. The importance of further specifying the activity spheres, in which the Protocol is applicable, was emphasized and a proposal for consideration at the expert level was presented. It was stated that, on the Palestinian side, priority is being given to reducing the impact of the greenhouse effect, rationalizing water sources, improving the harvest of agricultural crops, increasing the qualifications of those employed in agriculture.
Deputy Minister Iotzev expressed satisfaction with the practical focus of the dialogue and pointed out that all concrete ideas will be considered, including possible projects with third countries, the importance of food security and activities related to with the food independence of each country. In this context, he pointed out that Bulgaria, as an agricultural producer, is an important partner of the world community in terms of UN programs to overcome the hunger problem. Deputy Minister Iotzev noticed that a technologically oriented approach is needed in the use of resources both in production and in processing and in this direction Bulgaria can offer a successful partnership with the participation of the agricultural science. He also recalled that arable land globally is decreasing, while the population is growing. The Deputy Minister added that the management of food waste is possible area of cooperation. Successful practices in the field of organic production could also be exchanged, Deputy Minister Yotzev said further.