The Kingdom presides over the International Year of Camelids 2024 as a culmination of its efforts to develop the camel sector
The Kingdom presides over the International Year of Camelids 2024 as a culmination of its efforts to develop the camel sector
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated in the inauguration of the International Year of Camelids 2024 AD, which was launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at its headquarters in Rome, under the joint chairmanship of the Kingdom and the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC), represented by Bolivia, as a culmination of the Kingdom’s tireless efforts to pay attention to the camelid sector.
The Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Dr. Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, explained that based on the importance of the camel sector in achieving the goals of food security and economic growth, in addition to the important cultural and social heritage that camels represent in the Kingdom; A generous order was issued to form a steering committee responsible for organizing the Kingdom’s participation in the International Year of Camelids 2024 AD, headed by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and membership of: the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Sports, Finance, Media, Culture, and Education, in addition to the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Camel Club, and the Organization FAO, the National Program for the Development of the Livestock and Fisheries Sector, in addition to the National Agricultural Services Company, the Weqa Center, the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification, and the King Abdulaziz House.
Al-Ghamdi stated that the committee aims to prepare a governance framework for the Kingdom’s participation in the International Year of Camelids, build the strategy and general objectives, prepare and supervise the scientific component of the International Camelid Conference, and attract scientists and researchers specialized in the field of camelids to participate in the conference, in addition to studying and evaluating its scientific content and preparing the rules. Procedural and technical research, studies, scientific, awareness-raising and educational programs directed to the local and international community, indicating that all relevant parties will organize many local events related to the event throughout the year.
For his part, the Executive Vice President for the Development of the Livestock Sector in the National Program for the Development of the Livestock and Fisheries Sector, Dr. Faisal Al-Subaie, confirmed that the launch of the International Year of Camelids comes at a time when the Kingdom is developing important strategies and plans to make the camel sector more productive and sustainable to enhance food security, and to establish By playing a pioneering role regionally and globally; To support sustainable development in the camel sector, which finally culminated in its presidency of the International Year of Camelids.
It is noteworthy that the establishment of the International Year of Camelids 2024 aims to raise public opinion and governments’ awareness of the importance of recognizing the economic and cultural value of camelids, and to highlight their value in the lives of the peoples who suffer most and are vulnerable to extreme poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition, given that making optimal use of their multiple benefits (from meat, milk and fibres) As a means of transportation), it will help increase incomes and resources, as well as ensure sustainable livelihoods, and create new job opportunities.
