Amman: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations have signed a cooperation agreement for a project titled "Conservation and Genetic Improvement of Local Almond Varieties in Jordan for Sustainable Agricultural Development." This agreement aims to preserve and improve local almond varieties, which are considered an essential part of Jordan's agricultural heritage.
According to Jordan News Agency, Director General of the NARC, Ibrahim Rawashdeh, stated that the agreement represents a crucial step in Jordan's ongoing efforts to conserve plant genetic resources. The initiative will focus on the scientific documentation and certification of local almond varieties to help them adapt to climate change and improve productivity and crop quality. The project is expected to enhance the sustainability of the agricultural sector and strengthen national food security.
FAO Representative Nabil Assaf highlighted the agreement as a significant move toward protecting local almond varieties in Jordan. These varieties hold high agricultural value and are vital in enhancing the sector's ability to tackle future challenges, such as climate change and genetic erosion. The agreement will allow NARC to conduct various activities, including field surveys, sample collection, and morphological analysis of local almond varieties across different regions of the Kingdom. These efforts will provide a robust scientific foundation for the sustainable conservation and development of local genetic resources.