Libya and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are implementing a programme to preserve the country’s livestock genetic resources, Abdulhakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, told DNE Africa.
The programme focuses on conserving and protecting genetic resources of key livestock species in Libya, including sheep, goats, cattle, and camels, as part of efforts to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the country’s livestock sector.
Elwaer said the initiative is being implemented under broader cooperation between the FAO and Libya’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, covering measures aimed at supporting agricultural development, livestock production, and food security.
The livestock genetic resources programme is among several initiatives being pursued by the FAO and Libyan authorities to strengthen the country’s agricultural resilience and improve its capacity to maintain domestic food production.
The two sides have also agreed on measures to combat the red palm weevil, a major pest threatening date palm production and one of the key challenges facing Libya’s agricultural sector.
The initiatives come as Libya’s agricultural sector faces mounting pressures from climate change, water scarcity, and the need to increase the sustainability and productivity of domestic food systems.
Elwaer affirmed that such programmes need to be accompanied by stronger agricultural extension services and policies that promote sustainable production, helping farmers and livestock producers adopt more resilient practices.
The FAO’s cooperation with Libya forms part of wider efforts to address structural challenges facing agriculture in the Near East and North Africa, where water scarcity, climate change, and pressure on food systems are increasingly affecting agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
