Amman: The Senate's Agriculture and Water Committee, chaired by Dr. Akef Zoubi, discussed the contribution of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to the Kingdom's agriculture and water sectors.
According to Jordan News Agency, during a committee meeting held on Wednesday, attended by FAO Representative in Jordan, Nabil Assaf, Zoubi stated that the discussion aimed to review the organization's programs in the Kingdom's agriculture and water sectors and discuss its role in enhancing food security in these sectors. Zoubi highlighted the significance of the meeting with FAO Regional Director, Dr. AbdulHakim Elwaer, and his recent visit to the Kingdom alongside ambassadors from donor countries to strengthen cooperation with Jordan.
Assaf provided an overview of the organization's work program in the Kingdom's agriculture and water sectors, focusing on achieving development in cooperation with the Jordanian government within the Economic Modernization Vision. He outlined the organization's four action priorities, with the first aiming to improve productivity of smallholder farmers and their market access through digitization and promoting artificial intelligence to improve water efficiency.
The second priority is centered on ensuring governance of sustainable food systems and strengthening national capacities for evidence-based policies and practices to enhance food security. The third priority targets sustainable management of natural resources and supports disaster risk reduction, risk management, and early warning systems for resilient rural livelihoods.
Assaf mentioned that the fourth priority is to transform Jordan into a regional hub for food security, build an investment portfolio for agricultural development, secure financing, and strengthen the agricultural statistics system. He praised the proactive royal vision for enhancing food security through the strategic stockpile project and elaborated on the organization's role in providing expertise, technical support, and coordinating regional cooperation.
Assaf also emphasized the ongoing collaboration with ministries in the water, agriculture, environment, and energy sectors to achieve the royal vision's economic modernization objectives. Despite the challenges of water scarcity in the Kingdom, he underscored sustainability in agriculture and the partnership with relevant ministries to promote governance, transparency, and address climate change.
Committee members expressed their appreciation for the FAO's cooperation in Jordan and its efforts in pursuing the priorities of its action program, reaffirming their partnership with the organization to achieve food security, water harvesting, and optimal use of natural resources.