APN | Jordan

11 November 2024

With the support of the Minister of Social Development, Wafaa Bani Mustafa, APN and the International Islamic Charitable Organization-Kuwait launched the "Economic Empowerment and Enhancement of Food and Water Security through Sustainable Agricultural Projects" project in the Jordan Valley.

Dr. Barq Al-Dmour, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Social Development, speaking on behalf of the Minister, highlighted the importance of the project, which will be implemented across several areas in the northern, central, and southern Jordan Valley. The project targets farmers in the Jordan Valley, creating job opportunities for men and women, fostering volunteerism, and realising the vision for economic modernisation.

He added that the project aims to expand productive green spaces, improve water management, promote economic empowerment, enhance food security, enhance the economic value of agricultural products and better manage surplus, combat climate change, and raise community awareness surrounding the importance of agriculture and volunteering.

Razan Zuayter, APN Chairperson, emphasized the need for justice in food distribution and access to production resources. She pointed out that food systems in the Global South do not adequately support small farmers and stressed that achieving food sovereignty requires genuine partnerships between civil society and the public and private sectors, as individual efforts alone are insufficient.

Mustafa Al-Awad, Director of the International Islamic Charitable Organization's office in Jordan, noted that the second phase of the project focuses on supporting small farmers across the Jordan Valley, from north to south. He affirmed that investing in these farmers is an investment in the future of agriculture and food security and a step toward sustainable economic development. Such progress requires collaboration among all sectors to enhance farmers' capacities, provide essential resources, boost their productivity and income, and improve their standard of living.

Mariam Al Jaajaa, APN General Manager, emphasized that the agricultural sector is a vital contributor to the national economy due to its role in combating poverty and unemployment, supporting local industries, and binding communities to their land. She stated that this project has achieved significant successes, prompting the initiation of a second, broader phase covering all regions of the Jordan Valley—north, central, and south.

The project targets 600 farming families in the northern, central, and southern Jordan Valley, providing them with 25,000 fruit trees, 5,000 kilograms of vegetable seeds, irrigation networks spanning 375 dunums of farmland, the construction and rehabilitation of 50 agricultural ponds, 200 beehives, and the implementation of a fruit, vegetable, and herb drying project benefiting 30 farming families.

The significance of the project lies in its harmonisation of economic, social, and environmental aspects. It responds to the real needs of rural communities in the Jordan Valley, particularly farmers and women farmers, by combating unemployment, enhancing additional income opportunities, expanding productive agricultural areas, utilizing surplus agricultural production, and improving water resource management. This will ultimately have a positive impact on the entire country.