Amman, Oct. 15 (Petra) - Agriculture Minister Saeb Khreisat met with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu on Thursday to canvas expanding joint efforts to bolster food systems and combat climate change and water scarcity in Jordan.
Meeting on the sidelines of the World Food Forum, both sides called for expanding the Jordan-FAO partnership and supporting the development of sustainable agricultural and food systems in line with Jordan's national priorities.
Khreisat stated the need to increase agricultural productivity, improve water-use efficiency, adopt modern technologies, and expand economic opportunities for farmers and rural communities. He also pushed for empowering women and young people and increasing their participation in agricultural production.
The meeting explored ways to advance 3 Jordanian agricultural investment proposals submitted under the FAO's Hand-in-Hand Initiative.
Discussions also covered partnerships and investments to improve agricultural marketing, reduce post-harvest losses, increase the added value of agricultural products, and create jobs, enhancing the competitiveness of Jordanian produce in domestic and international markets.
Additionally, the officials tackled ways to promote agricultural innovation, expande digital extension services, and use modern technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve farming practices, optimize natural resource use, and help farmers adapt to climate change, particularly given Jordan's limited water resources.
The discussions also went over plans to host an international exhibition specializing in modern agricultural technologies and smart farming in Jordan in early 2027. The proposed event would bring together local and international institutions, specialized companies, experts and innovators to showcase technologies and solutions that support agricultural development and sustainability.
As for its agenda, the exhibition is expected to cover smart farming and digital transformation, modern irrigation and precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT) and remote sensing.
Other areas would include water resource management, innovative solutions to water scarcity, desalination and wastewater reuse in agriculture, renewable energy, dryland farming, hydroponics, vertical farming, smart greenhouses, climate adaptation, soil management, and modern harvesting, storage and food supply chain technologies.
The event would also provide a platform for exchanging expertise among researchers, farmers, specialists and companies, while promoting investment, international partnerships, advanced agricultural technology, and entrepreneurship.
Its broader aim would be to support knowledge transfer and localize technology while developing practical solutions to challenges such as water shortages, rising production costs and inefficient resource use.
Khreisat and Qu also reviewed initiatives to empower women and young people in agriculture, boost knowledge-sharing, and benefit from international programs, including the FAO's One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, which focuses on Jordanian dates, and the Green Cities Initiative.
They noted the importance of improving farmers' livelihoods, attracting investment, strengthening food security and building a "more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector." Concluding the meeting, the two sides pledged to boost joint cooperation on Jordan's primary agricultural priorities.
//Petra// HA
