Doha: The First Arab Forum for Agricultural Statistical Data concluded its activities in Doha after two days of discussions held on February 12-13, on the sidelines of the Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition. The forum was jointly organized by the Ministry of Municipality and the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development of the League of Arab States, with high-level participation from representatives of ministries of agriculture, national statistical offices, regional and international organizations, the private sector, as well as a distinguished group of experts and academics from across the Arab world.
According to Qatar News Agency, the forum issued a number of key recommendations, most notably strengthening institutional cooperation and coordination between national statistical agencies and ministries of agriculture in Arab countries; adopting a unified Arab framework for the quality of agricultural statistical data; enhancing the role of administrative records and linking them with statistical surveys; expanding the use of modern technologies; supporting digital transformation in agricultural surveys; and developing national capacities in data production.
Participants also emphasized the importance of enhancing the use of statistical data in monitoring food security indicators; developing methodologies to measure food loss and waste; improving the integration of agricultural, health, and environmental data; aligning data systems with the requirements for tracking the Sustainable Development Goals; preparing periodic regional reports on the status of agricultural data in the Arab world; and encouraging public-private partnerships to support innovation and sustainable investment.
The forum underscored the importance of establishing a clear mechanism to follow up on and implement its recommendations, ensuring their translation into practical programs and actionable plans. Participants recommended that the forum continue to be convened on a regular basis as a specialized Arab platform for exchanging expertise, building partnerships, and serving as a launching point for the development of the Arab agricultural statistical system, thereby contributing to enhanced food security and sustainable agricultural development in the region.
It is worth noting that the forum was held amid growing challenges facing the Arab agricultural sector, particularly climate change, scarcity of natural resources, and increasing pressures on food security systems. Participants affirmed that reliable and up-to-date agricultural statistical data constitutes a fundamental pillar in formulating effective agricultural policies, supporting decision-making, guiding investments, and achieving food security and sustainable development.
Participants also highlighted the growing importance of agricultural statistics and data following the adoption of the Arab Food Security Strategy by Arab Leaders. They stressed the need to ensure proper follow-up and governance of the strategy’s implementation frameworks, which requires the availability of accurate, approved, and comprehensive data.
Over the course of two days, the forum discussed four main themes: the production, analysis, and dissemination of agricultural data; data quality and governance; technological and investment integration; and the role of data in supporting food security policies, in addition to the contribution of agricultural statistics to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Participants further emphasized the importance of strengthening Arab integration in the field of agricultural statistical data, unifying standards and methodologies, and expanding the use of modern technologies such as digital transformation, geographic information systems, and remote sensing, in order to build an integrated Arab data system that serves decision-makers and supports the achievement of food security across the region.