Madaba: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, conducted a field visit to various sites in Madaba Governorate as part of their ongoing project, "Transforming to More Efficient, Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Agri-Food Systems," funded by the Norwegian government.
According to Jordan News Agency, the purpose of the visit was to evaluate the progress of the project's second field phase, tackle challenges and propose solutions, and explore methods to enhance the project's impact on the livelihoods of beneficiary farmers.
The visiting delegation included Engineer Khaled Hais from the Ministry of Agriculture; Birgitte S¸rgaard Wessel, Head of Development Cooperation at the Norwegian Embassy in Jordan; and Nabil Assaf, FAO Representative in Jordan, along with other project stakeholders and beneficiaries.
Wessel highlighted the importance of the collaboration between the government, international organizations, and local communities, expressing her satisfaction with the project's support for both Jordanians and Syrians, regardless of gender. She acknowledged the farmers' enthusiasm and willingness to share their experiences.
Hais emphasized the alignment of the project's activities with national initiatives to combat climate change and address water scarcity. He pointed out its role in enhancing household income, promoting food security, and generating employment opportunities to curb unemployment rates.
Assaf explained that the project aims to develop more efficient, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems to tackle regional challenges related to resource limitations and climate change. He emphasized the importance of optimal resource management for sustainability and resilience strengthening.
In its second phase, the project targets both Jordanian and Syrian farmers. A total of 111 farmers have benefited from grant programs and capacity-building initiatives in agricultural business management, which have helped increase productivity, boost revenues, and improve overall project outcomes.