JEDCO, Jordan River Foundation ink deal to support farmers

AMMAN — The Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Jordan River Foundation to implement development programmes and support farmers.

The MoU was signed by JEDCO CEO Bashar Al Zu’bi and Jordan River Foundation Director General Ina’am Barrishi, according to a JEDCO statement.

The MoU will be operated by the Rural Economic Growth and Employment Project (REGEP), which is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and implemented by the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation.

The REGEP targets youth, women farmers and small-scale farmers in Madaba, Balqa, Jerash, Ajloun and Mafraq governorates, for the development of economic projects that align with the strategy of “The reduction of poverty and unemployment in Jordan for the years 2013-2020”.

The strategy focuses on reduction of poverty, vulnerability and inequality in rural areas through creation of productive employment and income generating opportunities for the rural poor and vulnerable, especially youth and women, the statement said.

“The Rural Economic Growth and Employment Project aims at the development of agricultural projects to integrate small-scale farmers in value chains and improve their opportunities to get the needed funding in rural areas, and to improve their capacity building and competitiveness and their contributions to selected value chains in rural areas,” Zu’bi was quoted in the statement as saying.

Barrishi stressed that Jordan River Foundation is committed through its mission to all the governorates to enhance the role of beneficiaries by finding opportunities for establishing viable enterprises that contribute to local and national economic development, according to the statement.

The agreement will be implemented during the upcoming seven months. The Jordan River Corporation will develop and support savings groups through implementing programmes to build the capacity of 1,000 farmers in cooperation with the National Centre for Agricultural Research.

The Jordan River Foundation will also conduct 2,800 field visits to guide business owners, implement specialised training for 300 group beneficiaries, and develop a set of indicators for the sustainability of the project.

JEDCO is the national umbrella for developing economic enterprises in the Kingdom, including start-up and innovative enterprises; it supports their upgrading and enhances their competitiveness, facilitates access to finance in addition to policy advocacy towards creating a more conducive environment for their growth, concluded the statement.