Amman:Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Talal, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition (NAJMAH), has emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to food security. She outlined her views during a discussion organized by the Alliance, focusing on Jordan's food security and nutrition indicators as highlighted in the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report.
According to Jordan News Agency, Princess Basma stressed that ensuring access to healthy, diverse, and nutritious food, particularly for children, is essential. She added that protecting children from all forms of malnutrition is crucial. The Princess highlighted that addressing food insecurity extends beyond food-related interventions, requiring efforts to tackle water scarcity, climate change, livelihoods, social protection, and women's economic empowerment.
In the presence of Farah Daghistani, Executive Director of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), Princess Basma acknowledged the contributions of rural women, families, and young people in villages, desert communities, and refugee camps, recognizing them as essential partners in enhancing food security. She also discussed the importance of social responsibility in raising nutritional awareness, promoting healthy choices, and developing sustainable food systems to ensure safe and nutritious food for all.
Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Chair of the Higher Council for Food Security Saeb Khreisat noted the positive food security indicators in Jordan, attributing them to coordinated national efforts. He called for sustained progress and preparation for future challenges. Khreisat mentioned that the agricultural sector grew by 7.8 percent in the second quarter of 2026, contributing 4.5 percent to GDP, with date exports generating around $90 million annually and providing approximately 12,000 jobs, including 5,000 for women.
World Food Programme Representative and Country Director in Jordan Antonella D'Aprile praised Jordan's food security policies but cautioned that global and regional geopolitical challenges continue to pose threats to food supplies. FAO Representative in Jordan Thaer Yaseen highlighted the improvements in Jordan's food security indicators noted in the SOFI report, including a decline in undernourishment to 12.2 percent, child wasting at 2.3 percent, and the proportion of people unable to afford a healthy diet falling to 2.2 percent.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, jointly prepared by several UN agencies, serves as a key reference for monitoring progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal 2 of ending hunger by 2030.