Chile's Agriculture Minister and the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) director met here Tuesday to discuss solutions to the problems caused by climate change.

"We want to jointly undertake several projects in the future, especially on the impact of climate change in the region," Chilean Agriculture Minister Luis Mayol told reporters after the meeting.

"Chile, like other Andean countries, increasingly faces water shortages, particularly for irrigation, (livestock) breeding and human consumption," he said.

At the meeting, Chilean authorities suggested that local experts train their counterparts from FAO members.

FAO Director Jose Graziano da Silva said Chile is doing an excellent job in tackling health and food issues, and that Chilean experts will join FAO programs.

He also said Chile needs to establish a mechanism for training international consultants to adopt the country's successful strategies, especially in such areas as agriculture, livestock management and nutritional programs.

"We have decided to increase the number of Chilean technicians in the FAO, beginning in the regional offices," da Silva said.

Chile has been facing water shortages for the past five years due to ongoing droughts caused by both the "La Nina" weather phenomenon and climate change.

Experts said rising temperatures, lack of rainfall and the melting of the Andean glaciers are all the results of climate change.

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