Ministry of Agriculture, FAO launch food security project for Syrian refugees

AMMAN— The Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) launched a project on Wednesday aimed at enhancing food security and the resilience of host communities and Syrian refugees in Jordan through agricultural food production chains.

During the launch of the project, which was attended by Italian Ambassador to Jordan Luciano Pezzotti, Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat said that the project supports the efforts of individuals and associations to strengthen the resilience and empowerment of local communities in the provinces and peripheral areas, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

He praised the efforts of FAO and its cooperation in advancing the agricultural sector, lauding the collaboration and partnership with Italy and its role in supporting development projects in the sector.

Hneifat pointed out that the ongoing regional and global crises, along with the accompanying displacement and impacts on production and supply chains, in addition to the climate crisis, have made it essential to cooperate in developing tools for the agricultural sector. 

The cooperation includes empowering the sector through guidance, water harvesting, and modern technologies to optimally exploit opportunities to achieve food security.

Pezzotti emphasised that the project directly addresses critical challenges related to food security and livelihoods faced by Syrian refugees and Jordanian host communities by promoting self-reliance and sustainable agricultural food production systems.

FAO representative in Jordan Nabil Assaf said, "This project aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and aligns with the Economic Modernisation Vision 2033 and supports the objectives outlined in key national strategies such as the National Agricultural Development Strategy 2020-2025, the National Plan for Sustainable Agriculture 2022-2025, and the National Food Security Strategy 2021-2030."

The project, funded by the Italian government through the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation (AICS), aims to improve the efficiency of the value chain of agricultural products and food commodities, thereby enhancing food security and livelihoods for 200 families in host communities and Syrian refugees in Balqa, Jerash, and Ajloun.