Princess Basma inaugurates aquaculture, fish farming project in N. Jordan Valley

AMMAN — HRH Princess Basma on Tuesday inaugurated the aquaculture and fish farming project at the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development’s  (JOHUD)  Sheikh Hussein Development Centre in the Northern Jordan Valley.

The project, which was implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)  in Jordan and funded by the Canadian government, aims to provide job opportunities for 60 local women, through cultivating three greenhouses with a hydroponic system and establishing three fish ponds, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

According to Princess Basma, investing in the capacities of young men and women is crucial for achieving sustainable human and economic development, as well as promoting women’s economic empowerment and workforce participation. 

During the inauguration ceremony, Princess Basma praised the eco-friendly and sustainable concept behind the project, and lauded the efforts of the women leading the project and their ability, through the experiences and training they have acquired, to transform it into a success story.

She also commended UNDP for its effective partnership with JOHUD in empowering women through income-generating initiatives that enhance their role in society.

The princess also emphasised the importance of focusing on agriculture, especially aquaculture to achieve food security. She called for changing agricultural and individual behaviours, in light of the environmental changes associated with climate change and natural disasters. 

She referred to the efforts of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Ministry of Agriculture and the Jordan Valley Authority. 

Randa Abu Al Hassan, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Jordan, said that the project supports the social and economic empowerment of rural women in northern Jordan, and added that it aims to bridge economic gaps and enhance women’s role in decision-making.

Several project beneficiaries presented their experiences in managing and sustaining the project, following the training they received in recycling, fish farming, circular economy, environmentally friendly projects and cost-effective, sustainable farming techniques. The women explained that the project reuses protein-rich water from fish basins to produce quality food and plant varieties demanded in local markets.

Princess Basma met with beneficiaries of the project “SHE’S GREAT”, funded by the IREX organisation, which aims to empower school students, equip them with communication skills, create initiatives to serve the community and change negative stereotypes. 

She also watched a theatrical performance presented by young people regarding the issue of bullying in schools.

She also attended part of the e-commerce training activity, within the digital women’s centres, implemented by JOHUD in cooperation with Orange Jordan and with the support of the EU. 

The digital women’s centres aim to provide women in different regions of the Kingdom with digital, leadership, managerial and social media marketing skills, with the aim of enabling them to develop their own projects, increase their profits and enhance their contribution to the development of local communities and the economy.

She also learned about the experiences of women involved in with the environmental and tourism awareness project for women and youth, the “Himmeh and Lammeh” initiative, launched with the support of the Itihad Bank and in partnership with JOHUD. The project strives to enhance concepts of belonging, protecting the environment and adopting proper behaviour in dealing with waste as a fundamental pillar of the tourism sector.