Amman: Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat met Monday with the Board of Directors of the General Union of Jordanian Farmers at the Union’s headquarters. Hneifat listened to the Union’s representatives as they presented the most pressing issues facing the agricultural sector, along with proposals to address challenges and enhance its capabilities, in the presence of the Director General of the National Center for Agricultural Research, Ibrahim Rawashdeh; the Director General of the Agricultural Credit Corporation, Mohammad Dujan; and the Director General of the Cooperative Corporation, Abdul Fattah Shalabi.
According to Jordan News Agency, Hneifat underlined the importance of sustained cooperation and partnership across all components of the sector, noting that this approach aligns with the government’s policy to support vital sectors, particularly agriculture, as a cornerstone of food security and a driver of economic growth. The Minister noted that the sector recorded 6.9 percent growth, with agricultural exports rising to JD1.5 billion over three years of implementing the National Plan for Sustainable Agriculture. This progress, he said, has strengthened technical capacity and bolstered agricultural extension services.
Hneifat said agricultural lending reached a record JD65 million, a significant portion of which was interest-free, targeting value-added agricultural activities and efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and food security. He highlighted continued government support through export promotion, permanent exhibitions, water harvesting projects, afforestation, and industrial forestry programs that are yielding economic and social benefits.
The Minister also pointed to partnerships with international organisations under the Economic Modernisation Vision and the National Plan for Sustainable Agriculture, particularly in rural empowerment, youth employment, and agro-food industries. He stressed the importance of scientific support, including the development of laboratories and promotion of agricultural research.
On cooperative societies, Hneifat affirmed that the government provides training and qualification support, helping build clear and sustainable models. He urged the General Union of Jordanian Farmers to seize partnership opportunities with international organisations to benefit farmers and further the development of the sector.
For their part, Rawashdeh and Union members commended the Ministry’s efforts and the government’s support, which they said have led to higher export volumes and economic growth, positioning agriculture as a leading growth sector over the past two years. They also underscored the value of coordination and partnership in advancing the government’s Economic Modernisation Vision and the National Plan for Sustainable Agriculture.