Amman, March 11 (Petra) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and the United Nations on Wednesday launched a joint project titled "Local Financing Solutions to Support Jordan's Agri-Food System Transformation." The launch came during the project’s opening workshop, held under the patronage of Minister of Agriculture Saeb Khreisat. The event brought together representatives of local institutions and municipalities, along with stakeholders from the agricultural sector and UN agencies, including UN Resident Coordinator Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, FAO Representative Nabil Assaf, and UNIDO Representative Sulafa Mdanat.
Agriculture Ministry Secretary-General Ahmad Hiyari said the project marks a key step toward strengthening the resilience of Jordan’s agricultural sector. He said investment in climate-smart agricultural practices and the development of modern post-harvest systems will equip farmers, particularly small producers, with the tools and support needed to raise productivity, cut losses, and access better markets.
Funded by the Sustainable Development Goals Fund, the project aims to transform Jordan’s fruit and vegetable sector into an inclusive, climate-resilient, and market-oriented system. It will support more than 1,500 small farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises in the Deir Alla area through investments in climate-smart agriculture, business planning, governance enhancement, and market integration.
The project also includes the establishment of two modern post-harvest centers designed to reduce losses by 30-40 percent and facilitate broader access to high-value domestic and international markets.
The UN Resident Coordinator said strengthening local food systems goes beyond agricultural productivity, emphasizing that it is also about building economic, environmental, and social resilience and ensuring that all groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable communities, benefit from the process. She said the joint UN program is a direct response to that need.
The initiative is based on a blended finance model combining grants, producer contributions, and credit, and is aligned with Jordan’s National Food Security Strategy 2021-2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Jordan 2023-2027.
The project also places special emphasis on supporting women, youth, and refugees through specialized training, financing windows, and inclusive employment opportunities to ensure no one is left behind in Jordan’s agri-food systems transformation.
//Petra// AO
