Ma’an: Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi, who leads the committee responsible for implementing His Majesty the King’s initiatives, conducted a tour of agricultural and development projects in the Ma’an and Aqaba governorates. These projects are integral to the royal initiative aimed at enhancing national food security, supporting sustainable development, and providing job opportunities for the residents of the region.
According to Jordan News Agency, Issawi visited the Rahma agricultural project in Wadi Araba, accompanied by local officials, to assess the progress. The infrastructure of this project is 80 percent complete, featuring irrigation networks, sprinkler installations, and a main pond with a capacity of 150,000 cubic meters. Issawi underscored the importance of collaboration among various parties to ensure the project meets the required standards and becomes operational quickly to benefit the local community.
The Rahma project spans 1,800 dunums and is divided into 90 agricultural units, which are allocated to 180 families from the village of Rahma. These units are designated for the cultivation of field crops, fodder, and potatoes. Last season, 220 dunums were planted with barley, and efforts are underway to fully cultivate with fodder and barley in the upcoming season.
In Ma’an, Issawi, along with Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hanifat, visited the Ohida Agricultural Station. This project, a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the private sector, was initiated following a surprise visit by His Majesty in 2020, where he directed the development of the station using local resources to boost regional development and create jobs. The station has 2,000 dunums planted with almond trees, fodder, and field crops, including 1,000 dunums of apple trees, 305 dunums of apricots, pears, and grapes, and 650 dunums with field and fodder crops. The project has generated 65 permanent jobs and 150 temporary jobs for local residents.
Issawi also inspected an agricultural project in Unaizeh, Ma’an Governorate, a partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordanian Badia. Additionally, he toured forestry, fodder, and cactus cultivation projects in the region.
During his tour, Issawi highlighted the significance of these agricultural initiatives, which are a testament to His Majesty’s dedication to promoting comprehensive development in the Badia region. He noted that these projects, based on sustainability and effective public-private partnerships, represent a strategic approach to fostering sustainable local development, empowering communities, improving living standards, and creating new job opportunities.