AMMAN —
Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat told
Jordan News that the national plan for
sustainable agriculture for 2022–2025 stipulates the implementation of six
priority projects, covering over 73 initiatives, at a total cost of JD389
million.
اضافة اعلان
Of these, 61 initiatives
are slated to be implemented by the ministry in 2022, in cooperation with
agricultural institutions, at a total cost of up to JD76 million.
Hneifat said that a
central committee was formed in February to come up with a mechanism to follow
up on the implementation of the projects.
It also reviewed and
updated the implementation procedures in line with the funding requirements of
donors, said the minister, adding that 49 projects were launched during the
first quarter of this year in the plant, animal wealth, agricultural extension,
and rural development sectors.
Hneifat said that 32.68
percent of the ministry's priority projects for the current year were achieved
in the first quarter of this year, a 7.68 percent increase over the
expectations for the first quarter.
He added that leasing
Treasury lands, as well as developing quality agricultural projects in the
Sarhan and Al-Hammad basins with the aim of promoting water rationing, is also
part of the plan.
“Among the achievements
is launching the development of partnerships with the private sector to invest
in agricultural stations and agro-industrial complexes that manufacture tomato
paste, dried fruits and vegetables, and frozen vegetables, which offer three
investment opportunities,” said Hneifat.
Ministry of Agriculture Spokesperson Lawrence Al-Majali told
Jordan News that a veterinary quarantine
unit will be opened in Mafraq Governorate, the poultry feed market will be
liberalized by approving a number of agricultural policies, and six stations
will offer training in modern agricultural technology such as hydroponic and
aquaponics cultivation systems. At the same time, the 150km Desert Road
forestation program will be launched, and bids for water harvesting pits will
be awarded.
Majali stressed that the
agricultural loan program was launched to raise the efficiency of the
agricultural and rural sectors, support women-empowering projects, provide
loans for youth projects in the countryside, use modern agricultural
technology, develop fish farming, reclaim land, dig wells, and establish a seed
bank to preserve plant origins.
The purpose of this plan,
he said, is to create a real infrastructure for the agricultural sector,
increase production and investment, and build partnership with the private
sector.
Head of
Traders and Producers of Agricultural Materials Syndicate Mohammad Bibars told
Jordan News
that a plan to develop the agricultural sector is necessary, but that at
present, partnership with the private sector to ensure sustainable agriculture
is merely a slogan and not a reality.
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