Agriculture minister inaugurates trial phase of veterinary border control centre

AMMAN — Agriculture Minister Khalid Hneifat on Tuesday inaugurated the experimental operation phase of a $3 million US-funded veterinary border control centre in Mafraq.

During the ceremony, attended by Regional Representative of the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service Elizabeth Mello, Hneifat said that the Surra centre, which is part of a national plan for sustainable agriculture, is a "protective shield and an impenetrable fence" in the face of epidemics, infectious and common diseases that may cross the borders affecting both humans and animals.

He stated that the centre will conduct tests on exported and imported animal consignments or even those passing through the Kingdom to ensure their health safety and compliance with health requirements and quality standards to protect against diseases and their mutations, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

This project was born out of a pressing need to upgrade the old control centre and meet the World Organisation for Animal Health's health requirements, Hneifat said, adding that it benefits regional breeders, supports farmers economically, encourages newcomers to join this line of work, creates new sheep breeding job opportunities, and lays the groundwork for future growth.

He also said that the ministry is looking to get funding for the maintenance of the old control centre, at an estimated cost of JD600,000, which in turn supports the new centre and increases the number of exported animals during the peak season, especially sheep, to boost the livestock sector in the region.

Mello said that the grant for the centre is part of the US Department of Agriculture's Food for Development projects, estimated at $55 million to prop up the local agriculture and water sectors.

Detailing the control centre project, she pointed out that the Surra centre is part of eight agricultural projects, noting that it is a "priority project" aimed at supporting small-scale farmers, including livestock breeders.