At the launch of the activities of the eighth session of the Libya Agricultural Exhibition on 25 November held in Tamanhint, southern Libya, it was revealed to Libya Herald that post the global food price crises sparked by the Ukraine-Russia war, pivot irrigation agriculture in southern Libya has made a return.
The exhibition coincided with the celebration of International Palm Day and was held under the supervision of the General Authority for Exhibitions and several ministers from the eastern based Libyan government (unrecognised by most of the international community). Several companies specialized in importing agricultural equipment and machinery, pesticides, seeds, and companies producing dates, olive oil, and honey participated.
Opportunity to network and update
In an exclusive interview with Libya Herald, Abdul Khaleq Al-Zawi, the General Manager of Dawaer Al-Khair Company for Importing Agricultural Equipment and Machinery, one of the companies participating in the exhibition, said that the exhibition provides great opportunities for the owners of agricultural companies, whether specialized in the field of agricultural machinery and equipment, including centre pivot irrigation systems, or agricultural investment companies.
They, he continued, can meet with the owners of projects and agricultural companies who wish to learn about the latest modern agricultural technologies, as well as to establish partnerships with agricultural investors to invest in their farms, especially in pivot irrigation farming spread in the cities of the south.
Centre pivot irrigation systems
Al-Zawi pointed out that his company specializes in importing and installing centre pivot irrigation systems in the southern regions and has agencies from companies specialized in this field from the United States of America, Turkey and Germany. His company worked on installing pivot irrigation system in several agricultural areas in the southern Libyan region, especially in Kufra, Al-Sarir and South the city of Sabha, the Ghadwa area, and near the city of Ubari. Additionally, his company supplied advanced irrigation techniques that are environmentally friendly and conserve and rationalise water consumption.
Effect of decrease in global food supply and Ukraine war
Al-Zawi noted the increasing demand for the installation of centre-pivot irrigation systems in agricultural areas throughout the cities of southern Libya, especially in the field of cultivation of durum wheat, barley, corn, and oats, due to the high demand for these types of grains inside Libya due to the decrease in the global supply of them as the supply was affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Electricity stability has returned pivot agriculture
These products are used, he explained, in the food and animal feed industries, and with the stability of electricity over the past two seasons, agricultural irrigation pivot systems have returned to work from scratch. He said agricultural production of grains of various kinds has increased after the decline before 2021 for nine consecutive years, during which agricultural projects were neglected and the rush of production in them stopped.
Strengthen the economy
It is worth noting that the eighth Libya Agricultural Exhibition, held in Tamanhint, aims to strengthen the national economy and shed light on agricultural products in the southern region. The exhibition included workshops and scientific lectures on developments in the agricultural field around the world.
NESDB discusses food security and social protection with World Food Programme (libyaherald.com)
Food security: Libyan experts stress the importance of growing wheat locally (libyaherald.com)
Food Security: First meeting of Advisory Committee of the Grain Bureau (libyaherald.com)
Minister of Economy and Trade discusses establishment of Libyan Grain Bureau (libyaherald.com)
Food Security: First meeting of Advisory Committee of the Grain Bureau (libyaherald.com)
Food security: Libya happy to allow the re-export of imported goods (libyaherald.com)
Tripoli ‘‘Food Security’’ extensive conference agenda published (libyaherald.com)
Food Security forum to be held in Tripoli 14-16 October (libyaherald.com)
Food security meeting calls for closer North African integration (libyaherald.com)
