His Excellency, Minister of Agriculture Eng. Khaled Al Henefat, sponsored the signing ceremony for agreements aimed at empowering small farmers by rehabilitating wells and upgrading irrigation systems to reduce water loss. The event was attended by Dr. Khaled Abu Hammour, Director General of the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), and Eng. Zaid Alnsour, Director of the Rural Economic Growth and Employment Project (REGEP) in JEDCO, along with farmer beneficiaries. These activities are part of REGEP, implemented by the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) and funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Dutch government in the target governorates.
Al Henefat stated that these agreements aim to empower small farmers as part of the Economic Modernization Vision emphasized by his Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein. This initiative addresses water shortages and climate change while focusing on the rehabilitation of agricultural and productive projects. It also supports rural women and Jordanian youth in the target areas.
Dr. Khaled Abu Hammour highlighted that these agreements target 35 farmers in the central region, with 151 farmers benefiting from this project across the northern, southern, and central regions, ensuring coverage throughout the kingdom. He added that well rehabilitation is a national project aimed at increasing water use efficiency and enhancing water-harvesting efforts in Jordan, in cooperation with national and international partners.
Eng. Zaid Alnsour appreciated the entrepreneurial role of NARC, the scientific arm of the Ministry of Agriculture, in empowering small farmers and supporting rural projects. He highlighted NARC’s efforts in encouraging innovation in modern irrigation techniques through the rehabilitation of wells and irrigation networks to enhance efficiency and water harvesting. These measures are considered creative solutions to address climate change and drought.