Amman – The Parliamentary Agriculture and Water Committee, chaired by MP Ahmad Shdeifat, discussed on Tuesday the draft amendment to the Agricultural Risk Management Law of 2021.
اضافة اعلان
The meeting was attended by Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat, Ministry Secretary-General Eng. Mohammad Al-Hiyari, and Director of the Agricultural Risk Fund Khaled Al-Talafha.
Shdeifat stated that the primary objective of the proposed Agricultural Risk Solidarity Fund Law is to promote mutual support among farmers participating in the fund to address agricultural risks, mitigate their impacts, and encourage agricultural investment by reducing financial losses caused by such risks.
He explained that the law aims to enable the fund to compensate non-participating farmers for damages caused by frost risks.
Committee members, including MPs Ali Al-Ghazzawi, Omar Bani Khalid, Eyad Jibreen, Fathi Al-Bawab, Habis Al-Fayez, and Basem Al-Rawabdeh, reviewed the amendments to the law.
Key points discussed included immediate compensation for farmers affected by natural disasters, agricultural risk insurance, compensation rates for farmers, and participation in the solidarity fund.
The MPs called for postponing agricultural loan repayments, stabilizing feed prices, and addressing challenges in livestock health by providing appropriate vaccines.
Eng. Mohammad Al-Hiyari highlighted during the meeting, partially attended by Minister Hneifat, that the fund, which was previously financially and administratively independent, became a directorate within the ministry in 2023. A new system was issued to compensate all farmers affected by natural disasters.
He noted that under the draft law, the Solidarity Fund would operate on a subscription-based model. Farmers would pay a percentage of their subscription fees based on the risk level in their agricultural regions.
This approach is intended to encourage farmers to avoid high-risk areas and foster shared responsibility with the ministry.
He reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to compensating farmers for frost damage.
Regarding compensation timelines, Al-Hiyari stated that damage assessments are conducted within four days by specialized committees, and reports are reviewed by the ministry, with most cases resolved within two months.
Director of the Agricultural Risk Fund, Khaled Al-Talafha, explained that compensation delays are often due to incomplete documentation submitted by farmers. When all documents are complete, the payment process typically takes two weeks.
The attendees agreed to hold another meeting to finalize discussions and introduce amendments benefiting farmers.
The draft law aims to achieve solidarity among participating farmers to address and mitigate agricultural risks, encourage agricultural investments by reducing financial losses, and compensate members for damages resulting from agricultural risks.
Under the proposed law, the solidarity fund will be established with a defined management structure, operational procedures, financial resources, and spending guidelines. It will also empower the fund to compensate non-members for frost-related damages.
.jpg)
.jpg)
