MOGADISHU, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Somalia and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Wednesday signed a seven-year project aimed at building climate resilience in the agricultural sector.

The 95-million-U.S.-dollar project seeks to address climate change challenges and strengthen agrifood systems through significant investments, according to a statement from FAO.

Approved by the Green Climate Fund, a global climate finance initiative established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, this funding will enhance adaptation efforts and bolster the climate resilience of vulnerable agricultural communities in Somalia.

Somalian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi highlighted that the project will benefit more than 2 million people by restoring land, improving food security, and building resilience against severe climate impacts. "Climate change is a matter of survival for Somalia," the minister said.

The project, spearheaded by FAO, aims to strengthen the resilience of Somalia's rural communities and ecosystems by promoting sustainable land management practices, improving access to water, introducing climate-resilient agricultural techniques, and developing value chains. It will restore more than 50,000 hectares of degraded land, train 86,000 farmers and pastoralists in climate-smart agriculture, and rehabilitate essential infrastructure such as irrigation canals and rural roads.

By strengthening value chains for key agricultural products and improving access to climate information services, the project will empower communities to better cope with climate shocks and enhance their livelihoods, FAO said.

Somalia faces a complex array of challenges, including poverty and conflict, which are exacerbated by climate change, particularly through increasingly frequent extreme weather events like droughts and floods that threaten the country's already fragile food security, according to the United Nations.

FAO said that by improving access to water and promoting sustainable farming practices, the project aims to increase food production and reduce reliance on food imports and aid. The project also emphasizes gender equality and women's empowerment, with women making up 50 percent of the beneficiaries.

The project is also designed to foster long-term sustainability and peace-building in Somalia, according to FAO. "By strengthening governance structures, improving climate information systems, and promoting community participation, the project will contribute to a more stable and resilient society," it said. Enditem

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