Gov’t committed to supporting agriculture sector — PM

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday stressed the government’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector, and working to arrive at solutions for the various challenges facing it. 

The premier made the statement while chairing a meeting of the Higher Agricultural Council, during which discussions focused on proposed amendments to the draft agriculture law, which is currently in Parliament.

The council also endorsed broad lines for the 2016-2025 national strategy on agricultural development, which is the fruit of joint efforts that have taken the country’s new 10-year socio-economic vision, dubbed Jordan 2025, into account. 

Agriculture Minister Akef Zu’bi briefed the gathering on the strategy’s main projects and ways to boost the agricultural sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product, and increase the percentage of Jordanian workers in this field, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

At the meeting, Ensour noted that the strategy should cover all agriculture-related issues, including ways to deal with desertification, boosting veterinary services and increasing fisheries’ production. 

He also stressed the government’s commitment to safeguarding agricultural lands, noting that the decision to allocate 7,000 dunums of Treasury lands in the hilly areas overlooking the Jordan Valley to be distributed to Jordan Valley residents before March is in line with the government’s efforts to preserve farming lands. 

Under no circumstances will the government accept that agricultural lands be used for building and housing purposes, the premier noted.