Director General: Tarek Bin Moussa

The idea behind the establishment of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development was based on a number of socioeconomic reasons prevalent during the 1970s, amongst which the most important were:

• The desire of countries to establish their agricultural and economic sectors on solid foundations, based on technical know-how and benefiting from the experience of others.
• The recognition of the importance of the agricultural sector within the Arab economy, and the conviction that the development of agriculture will lead to economic well-being.
• The realization that Arab agricultural resources have not been exploited to their fullest nor in the most efficient and effective manner.
• The striking similarities in environmental and socioeconomic conditions between the different Arab countries, as well as the nature of their agricultural challenges.  " The knowledge that better exploitation of, and maximization on, the agricultural sector would enable the Arab countries to meet their needs in other sectors of the economy.
• The awareness that an integrated Arab agricultural policy could only be attained through better coordination between Arab countries.

The overall objective of the AOAD is to identify and develop linkages between Arab countries, and coordinate all agricultural and agricultural -related activities amongst them.  In more specific terms, this entails the following:

• Developing the natural and human resources available in the agricultural sector, and enhancing their output based on technical know-how.
• Increasing agricultural productivity, both in the animal and plant sectors, and attaining full agricultural integration between Arab countries.
• Facilitating exchange of agricultural products between Arab countries.
• Increasing agricultural production in order to attain food self-sufficiency.
• Supporting agricultural projects and processing industries.
• Bettering the living conditions of workers in the agricultural sector.
• In order to better attain these objectives, the AOAD deems it necessary to undertake a number of activities on the regional as well as national levels, such as the following:
• Collecting and disseminating information and data relevant to the fields of food and agriculture.
• Coordinating and supporting local and regional efforts in the agricultural sector, and in specific:
• Scientific and technological researches,  as well as  socioeconomic studies in fields related to food, agriculture and rural communities.
• Supporting organizations and service-providers in the fields of education, training, agricultural know-how , home-economics, credit and management, as well as development of rural communities.
• Natural resources preservation and updated know-how in food processing industries.

The Organization comprises all 21 Arab League members: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Republic of Yemen. Membership is open to all Arab States and countries.

The organizational structure of AOAD is considered an important working tool, since it is the channel through which the organization achieves its objectives. Upon its establishment, AOAD's organizational structure was suitable for the period under consideration. However, with the regional and international changes which have occurred since, and in light of the newly set Development and Modernization Program, there proved to be a need for a new organizational structure through which AOAD's program is to be implemented in the upcoming period.

 

Kindly check URL: http://www.aoad.org/eng/Structure.htm

Kindly check URL: http://www.aoad.org/eng/Publications.htm