Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas
Argentina | September 24 – 27, 2013
“The management of water as a productive resource”
Norberto Yauhar
Norberto Yauhar, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina
It is an honor for Argentina to be hosting the Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture of the
Americas and the Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA).
This event will afford us an opportunity to discuss, together, the situation of agriculture in
our continent, and to coordinate actions aimed at the inclusive development of the region’s
agrifood sector.
On this occasion, we shall be discussing a subject of enormous strategic importance for the
region and for the world: the management of water as a productive resource.
As you are aware, in the coming years agricultural production will have to increase to meet
the growing world demand for food. Nearly 40% of the planet’s water, a valuable and
scarce input, is to be found in the Americas.
We will have to produce more food for more people, but will have to do so in a sustainable
way, that is, without compromising the development of future generations. Hence, the vital
importance of establishing a joint strategy for the responsible management of water
resources.
We must modernize the water infrastructure and management of the resource; develop
precision agriculture and include the adoption of drip irrigation systems to achieve
substantial improvements in water use. To that end, it is necessary to integrate the efforts of
the public and private sectors, to keep focus and work together.
In Argentina, the State is implementing public policies by means of different programs
involving the application of irrigation systems, the consolidation and expansion of irrigated
land, and the expansion of the agricultural frontier under irrigation.
We realize that much remains to be done and that we have to continue to work hard. Our
challenge as a region is to meet the burgeoning global demand for food. Water drives
agricultural development; hence, the objective is to join efforts in conserving it and using it
properly. We invite you to tackle this challenge together by planning and instituting
sustainable policies on the issue.