Amman: Jordan's Higher Population Council (HPC) has called for an overhaul of land-use legislation and planning frameworks to address demographic imbalances and unlock the economic potential of rural areas, saying the reforms are vital to empowering rural women and safeguarding food security.
According to Jordan News Agency, the council made this call in a statement marking the International Day of Rural Women and the World Food Day, emphasizing the connection between these observances, as rural women are integral to agricultural and food production systems in Jordan.
The council highlighted that under the Economic Modernization Vision's implementation plan, the Ministry of Local Administration is tasked with revising the Land-Use Regulation System, updating the national land-use map, and reviewing the Cities and Villages Planning Law and associated bylaws.
The proposed legal reforms aim to preserve arable land, especially in Jordan's northern and western regions, strengthen rural household economies, and increase women's participation in agricultural value chains. These reforms are also intended to curb unplanned urban expansion and reduce population pressures on cities.
The council noted that agriculture remains a strategic pillar for Jordan's macroeconomic stability and food resilience. The country has implemented initiatives such as the National Food Security Council, the National Seed Bank, and new Cooperative and Agricultural Risk Mitigation Fund laws enacted in 2025.
HPC pointed out significant demographic and spatial disparities, with only 8% of the population living in the southern governorates, which hold half of Jordan's land and most of its natural resources. In contrast, 92% of citizens are concentrated in the north, leading to inflated real estate prices, strained infrastructure, and environmental stress.
The council stressed that empowering rural women requires protecting farmland from urban encroachment, describing it as a "gateway to poverty reduction, food self-sufficiency, and sustainable rural growth."