AFD delegation briefed on ‘Smart DESERT’ project in Northeastern Badia

AMMAN — A delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD) was briefed on the Smart DESERT Project Activities in the agricultural sector in the Northeastern Badia region.

During a field tour, the delegation was briefed on the “Smart DESERT” project activities, according to a statement from the organisers. 

The AFD delegation met the Smart DESERT project team during a field tour, where they were briefed on the important activities and modern technologies used at agricultural sites and in farming schools. They also met with agricultural home based businesses during the visit. 

The meeting was attended by Bertrand Walckenaer, the Director General Adjoint of Agence Française de Développement, Laurent Duriez, the Director of Agence Française de Développement in Jordan, as well as representatives from the Smart DESERT project and its beneficiaries.

Smart DESERT is a pilot-project financed under the Minka Peace and Resilience Fund, dedicated to reducing the vulnerabilities and long-term effects of the Syrian refugee crisis in host countries.

France, through the AFD, allocated a 10-million-euro grant to the Smart DESERT project.

Ali Hayajneh, project manager from the IUCN said: “This project is one of the most important projects implemented in Jordan in this period, which aligns with the royal visions to achieve food security.” 

The Smart DESERT project aims to create “a paradigm shift” in Jordan’s agricultural sector by improving the regularity of income for Jordanian and Syrian beneficiaries throughout the year in the project’s area (the North-Eastern Badia Highlands). This will be accomplished through long-term agreements to purchase the offered products, the adoption of smart farming practices and creating new jobs, read the statement.

The project, which also aims to improve the working conditions for agricultural workers, will focus on smart farming, efficient irrigation, proper crop selection, the use of non-conventional water resources, and meeting market requirements.

The project is implemented by the IUCN in partnership with Blumont, Horizons for Green Development, Greentech, and Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM). 

The Smart DESERT Project will reach young entrepreneurs and trainees through direct and indirect capacity-building programmes and support 500 agricultural home based businesses and 200 farms in the North-Eastern Badia Highlands, according to the statement.