Hneifat highlights economic achievements of Agriculture Ministry

AMMAN — The agricultural sector contributes to around 20 per cent of the national economy and 6 per cent of the GDP, Agriculture Minister Khalid Hneifat said on Tuesday. 

During a panel discussion at the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Hneifat reviewed the achievements of the ministry, mainly the launch of the National Strategy for Agricultural Development 2020-2025 and the National Plan for Sustainable Agriculture 2022-2025, and increasing the capital of the Agricultural Credit Corporation to JD100 million.

On providing support for the agricultural sector, Hneifat noted that the ministry provided JD125 million through the agricultural resilience programme and the Value Chain Development and Innovation (ARDI, or "My Land").

He highlighted the inauguration of the Jordanian-Palestinian Company for Marketing Agricultural Products in Amman, and its first branch in Jericho, predicting that the company's exports will rise to 10,000 tonnes in 2023, up from 2,000 tonnes in 2022.

On food security, Hneifat indicated that JD48 million will be allocated to finance 11,308 food projects as part of the agricultural plan's top priorities.

On the national afforestation projects, he said that 150 kilometres of roads have been afforested, and a tender has been announced for afforesting three oases in Qatraneh, Abyad and Unaizah with an area of 4,000 dunums.

The minister also referred to starting the forestation process in 100 dunums of the Hisha Forest, and announcing a tender to purchase 50,000 cocoon plants to afforest 4,000 dunums in Irbid, Jerash and Ajloun.