The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources yesterday held a celebration marking World Water Day, which falls on 22 March every year.

Held via videoconferencing, the event was organized in cooperation with the Office of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Dr. Saud Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, said in a statement on this occasion that the Sultanate’s participation in this event stems from a conviction that water forms a basic pillar of development. Acting from this conviction, Oman strives to rationalize water use and develop its resources by striking a balance between available water supplies and the volume of demand for water, given population growth over years to come, said the minister. This requires awareness across all segments of society about ideal use of this valuable resource, its preservation and its protection against depletion and pollution, the minister added.

The event saw the launch of Oman Water Report 2020, a display on World Water Day and the presentation of seven working papers on the water sector.