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Jordan

Kharabsheh noted that the ministry as well as exports from testing fees for nursery; one of the agricultural stations
reviewed the strategy with local and a year. This will be supported by the of Ministry of Agriculture where women
international partners, including the launch of an agro produce quality and and men have equal opportunities
Food and Agriculture Organisation safety system. to participate in and benefit from
of the United Nations, the World Food the project’s activities including
Programme, the World Bank and the participation in the trainings, workshops
United Nations Economic and Social FAO LAUNCHES and project implementation activities
Commission for Western Asia, to ensure at all levels. Furthermore, it aims to
it is comprehensive and consistent with “HYDROPONICS contribute to support employment of
best global practices. youth and women job seekers, through
All other sub-strategies were AND AQUAPONICS” the creation of employment opportunities
in aquaponics and hydroponics.
incorporated in the new strategy with the
aim of having a uniform post-COVID-19 Alexis Bonte, FAO Representative Ad-
agricultural policy, Kharabsheh pointed WATER-SAVING Interim in Jordan said, “Studies showed
out, adding: ‘The strategies that were that every 1 kg of tomato needs 63 liters of
integrated included, the fish and marine SYSTEMS IN JORDAN water in conventional agriculture, while
products strategy, the date palm strategy, it only needs 26 liters in hydroponics.
the rangelands strategy and forest The Food and Agriculture Organization This is critical for a country where water
policies.’ of the United Nations (FAO) and the is a major challenge for sustainable
Given the importance of agriculture Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) launched development.”
in the food supply chain, Kharabsheh a pioneering project to provide capacity Shahahdeh says, ”We want to establish
noted, the government has introduced a building and technical support for the a social incubator for hydroponics and
number of finance and credit incentives Integrated Agri-Aquaculture (IAA) aquaponics, where a qualitative shift
to boost producers’ resilience in crisis farming systems in Jordan. and a big difference will occur in the
time and also expanded the Agricultural In line with a technical cooperation agricultural sector.”
Risk Fund’s umbrella to cover all risks. agreement signed between the two This joint project falls within FAO’s
The government has also provided a parties in early January, FAO conducted regional initiatives on water scarcity and
set of fee exemptions to help organise an inception workshop to acquaint encouraging small-scale family farming
the agricultural sector, support stakeholders and programme partners across the Near East and North Africa.
the agricultural exports chain, and with the scope and outlines of the project
encourage agricultural cooperatives to entitled: “Introduction of Aquaponics Jordan’s 2025 Vision, among others,
assume their role in employment and job and Hydroponics in Support of Effective aims to improve national water security
creation, he said. Use of Water.” The workshop covers also and agricultural productivity. The
the implementation strategy and work 2016-2025 water strategy is based on
The minister indicated that the plan. integrated water resource management
government will establish centres approach. Jordan Economic Growth Plan
for agricultural services and training The workshop was under the (2018-2022) acknowledges the need
on modern agricultural technology, patronage of his Excellency Eng. Ibrahim for capitalizing on new agricultural
especially aquaponics and hydroponics, Shahahdeh , Minister of Agriculture and technologies such as hydroponic
to enable unemployed Jordanians to gain attended by a group of stakeholders and systems in the enhancement of the
skills much-needed in the agricultural government partners. efficiency of agriculture sector in Jordan.
labour market. Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants
Detailing the strategy’s themes in water without soil, while Aquaponics
and focus areas, Kharabsheh said the combines it with fish production in the
restructuring of the sector entails the same water for the plants. ADVERTISE
following: Amending the Jordan Farmers
Union’s law, revisiting the agricultural
cooperatives’ bylaw, establishing a IN THE ARAB
comprehensive agricultural database,
relieving farmers from registration WORLD
fees when licensing an individual
enterprise, exempting cooperatives from
registration fees as well as relieving new AGRIBUSINESS
cooperatives from service and auditing
fees. MAGAZINE
Detailing another theme of the strategy,
the utilisation of modern technology, AND PROMOTE
the minister indicated that 17 training
centres will be established and a funding The project is designed to train YOUR
tranche will be available to hydroponics, unemployed agricultural engineer
aquaponics, and fish farming projects. graduates and farmers, set up a
knowledge base and research on PRODUCTS
In a bid to boost exports, the strategy “Hydroponics and Aquaponics” farming
relieves farmers and seed companies units. It will be implemented in AlFaisal

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