Amman – Tomorrow – The Ministry of Agriculture and the National Center for Agricultural Research with the United Nations food and agricultural organization (FAO) in Jordan signed two pioneering projects to improve sustainable agricultural development and improve livelihoods throughout Jordan, in an important stage towards the development of the agricultural sector in Jordan and the promotion of food security.
According to a FAW declaration, the two projects represent a major investment in the future of agriculture and comply with national priorities for sustainable development and the promotion of food security.
The first project, “preserve and improve the genetic genes of local almond varieties in Jordan for sustainable agricultural development”, focuses on the preservation of agricultural heritage in Jordan.
This project will be implemented in partnership with the National Center for Agricultural Research and other research institutions, and will document, analyze and preserve the inheritance of values in Jordan, including wild species, which are threatened by climate change, agricultural modernization and the lack of complete genetic information.
This work will include a detailed genetic and morphological study, the development of memorization strategies and the creation of new varieties with desirable characteristics, which ultimately improves genetic diversity and flexibility in the Jordanian agricultural sector.
The second project aims to “strengthen the agricultural sector in Jordan by improving capacities and accessing markets”, in order to improve food security and the means to experience rural communities by supporting farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, increase productivity and improve market access.
Activities will include supply to farmers the necessary tools and training, facilitating dialogue between the public and private sectors and the creation of improved entry points for the market thanks to initiatives such as agricultural exhibitions. This project will take up challenges that have been exacerbated by the water shortage, high unemployment rates, global crises and the direct response to the needs of the Jordanian government and royal vision to improve food security.
The Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Al -hanifat, and the representative of the organization of food and agriculture, Nabil Assaf, signed an additional agreement to improve the skills of farmers in the field of intelligent agricultural practices in the face of climate change for farmers of the governors of Madaba, Karak, Tafila and Maan.
Under this agreement, 16 field schools for farmers will be established and the equipment necessary to implement an additional number of schools in the field later to increase the capacity of farmers to adapt to the climate.
This agreement comes within the framework of “strengthening the capacity to adapt to climate change by improving the efficiency of water use in the agricultural sector” funded by the Green Climate Fund, which is implemented by the organization of food and agriculture in cooperation with the main partners of agriculture, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, the Ministry of the Environment and the UNI Development Program.
Al -hanifa stressed the importance of these initiatives to strengthen the Jordanian agricultural sector, noting that these projects will help farmers, researchers and institutions to adopt innovative and lasting programs to produce and distribute food.
The Director General of the “National Center”, Professor Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed Al -Rawashdeh, With the Confidence of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the FAO, in the Scientific Arm of the Ministry of Agriculture, “National Center”, through the active Partnership in the Project of Preserving Local Almond Breeds, Which is one of the First Research Projects that the National Seed Bank will be implemented after the Opening, which culminates in High Royal Care and is considered one projects to vision modernization and the national sustainable development plan implemented by the Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture.
ASFAF has underlined the organization’s commitment to allow farmers to the tools and knowledge necessary to adapt to climate challenges, and said: “These agreements reflect the commitment of the FAO company to support the Jordanian agricultural sector with lasting solutions that improve flexibility and productivity, by working together, we can help farmers to adopt smart climate practices, A stable food future for farmers. “
The organization of food and agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture have expressed their commitment to strengthen solid partnerships and cooperation, and ensuring that these projects open to a more flexible and prosperous agricultural future in Jordan.
