The Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources has warned of growing threats to water and food security, stressing the need for regional cooperation to address escalating environmental challenges.

Regional Water Cooperation and Environmental Strategy

Begard Talabani, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), stated during a panel discussion at the Delphi Economic Forum Slemani that Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are undergoing a period of major economic transformation.

She noted that because Iraq’s primary water sources originate outside its borders, the construction of dams, restrictions on water flow, or river diversions by neighboring countries inevitably create geopolitical disputes.

The minister emphasized the urgent need to establish a regional framework for understanding to effectively manage shared water resources.

In another segment of her address, Talabani pointed out that while Middle Eastern countries have long depended heavily on oil and gas, the region is now facing the severe consequences of environmental degradation.

She said regional strategies must shift toward confronting environmental threats and advocated for the establishment of a joint regional center to implement structured plans for environmental management and climate change adaptation.

Food and Water Security Challenges

The Minister of Agriculture underscored that global disruptions pose direct risks to the food and water security of the Kurdistan Region.

She asserted that ordinary citizens should not bear the burden of environmental changes and stressed that officials must take responsibility by developing comprehensive strategies to safeguard both the energy and food sectors.

Begard Talabani explained that the Kurdistan Region has been directly affected by regional developments, including climate volatility, water scarcity, and food security concerns.

Describing these issues as a significant challenge for the Region, she called for the development of a new collaborative policy with the international community and neighboring countries to help mitigate these crises.