Implementation of a multimillion-dollar project to enhance food security and agricultural productivity across Jordan will commence in March, according to a senior government official.
The mega-project will train people from all governorates on vocational agricultural skills and “agribusiness management”, and then secure them with funds to start their own food and animal production projects, Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat said on Thursday.
“The national project seeks to improve food security and self-sufficiency in livestock and agricultural products, while securing people with a sustainable source of living,” Hneifat noted at a meeting with the press.
The project is worth around USD $19 million, he said, highlighting that it is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
“Our goal is to strengthen the country’s self-sufficiency to reduce its reliance on imports,” the minister stressed.
The ministry hopes to also find new markets to export their produce to while patching things up with past trading partners.
“The country used to export 700,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables to Iraq and Syria per year, but now we are only exporting 90,000 tonnes annually to Iraq and at much higher costs because exports reach the Iraqi market via Kuwait,” Hneifat said.
source: jordantimes.com
