Amman, Aug. 3 (Petra) -- Minister of Agriculture and Chairperson of the Jordan Cooperative Corporation, Saeb Khraisat, said a recent study by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) underscores the progress achieved by Jordan's cooperative sector and reflects growing international recognition of the Kingdom's efforts to develop cooperative work.
Khraisat said in a statement that the FAO study's praise for the corporation's achievements reflects the success of Jordan's national vision for developing cooperative work and strengthening its role in sustainable development.
He said highlighting the corporation's progress in developing its tools and operations confirms that the cooperative sector is moving in the right direction, particularly in agriculture and the use of modern, smart technologies in cooperative projects, which, he said, is boosting productivity and sustainability.
Khraisat described the partnership with the FAO as a key pillar in supporting Jordan's agricultural and cooperative sectors, noting that agricultural cooperatives account for about 25% of all registered cooperatives in the Kingdom, with 355 of Jordan's 1,455 cooperatives operating in the sector, reinforcing their contribution to national food security.
He said cooperatives' growing use of modern technology is helping cut production costs, save time and effort, and improve the quality of agricultural and food products.
He linked this progress to royal directives and the Economic Modernization Vision, as well as government efforts to update cooperative legislation and ease access to local and international grants and loans.
Khraisat said the FAO's 2026 publication "Voices of Cooperatives" highlighted success stories from Arab and African cooperatives, with Jordan receiving the largest share, 19 cooperatives most of them agricultural, reflecting the advanced position Jordanian cooperatives have reached in adopting smart technologies.
JCC Director-General Abdel Fattah Shalabi said the study reflects international confidence in the ability of Jordanian cooperatives to adopt best practices in development and innovation.
He said the corporation continues to implement programs to build cooperatives' capacity, expand partnerships with national and international bodies, and enable the use of modern technology to strengthen their contribution to local development, food security and sustainable economic opportunities for youth and women.
The study found that the corporation adopted an integrated national strategic vision that enabled it to develop its tools and strengthen cooperatives' leadership in implementing projects using smart technologies.
It also praised the activation of the Cooperative Development Institute, which provides training and technical and administrative consultations, and the preparation of a strategic plan for the cooperative sector in partnership with the FAO.
The study said the corporation has worked to empower youth and women in rural areas, ease cooperatives' access to donor agencies and technical compliance certification, and develop initiatives in hydroponics, aquaponics, soil-less farming, agricultural waste recycling, medicinal plant and saffron production, and the use of artificial intelligence to improve quality and production efficiency.
It also cited the corporation's success in building financial and social empowerment networks, providing financial inclusion tools and low-cost savings funds, and showcasing 19 Jordanian cooperatives as leading models in agriculture, production and empowerment for adopting innovative solutions in water management, smart farming and post-harvest techniques, bolstering their capacity to address water scarcity and add value to agricultural output.
//Petra// NQ
