AMMAN — Water scarcity has a limited impact on
the agricultural sector, and food security is not linked only to agriculture
but includes other elements in the industrial and trade sector,
Minister of Agriculture Khalid Al-Hunaifat said, according to Al-Ghad News.
اضافة اعلان
While Jordan imports 97 percent of its wheat, it
maintains 90 percent self-sufficiency in its production of fruits and
vegetables, and produces nearly 100 percent of its own poultry, the minister
said, adding that the negative effects of water scarcity on the agricultural
sector is minimal with no impact on food security.
The ministry is working to direct farmers to
water-saving crops and the use of technology, as well as supporting farmers
with interest-free loans. Moreover, the
ministry has implemented a number of water harvesting programs through the
development of 10,000 wells to increase water supplies.
Hunaifat assured that the ministry has contingency measures
for 2021 to support farmers in the event of low precipitation during the rainy
season. “We are in the advanced stages of achieving food security despite climate
change due to existing strategies and the King’s support to agricultural
sector,” he said.
Agriculture expert Jamal Al-Batsh said that it is too
early to be concerned about rain as the season is still in its beginning,
noting that the last five years witnessed a delay in the agricultural season. “The
important thing is not the amount of rainfall, but the distribution of rain.”
The Ministry of Agriculture has a food security
strategy prepared in light of
COVID-19 for the years 2021–2030, which addresses
future increases in food demand in light of a growing population and irregular
food consumption patterns.
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