Princess Basma urges comprehensive approach to food security
11/11/2026 | 19:25:37
Amman, November 11 (Petra) – Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Talal, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition (NAJMAH), called for a comprehensive approach to food security.
Princess Basma made her remarks Tuesday while chairing a discussion organised by the Alliance on Jordan's food security and nutrition indicators, based on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report. Princess Basma said a comprehensive approach for food security must ensure access to healthy, diverse and nutritious food, particularly for children, adding that it must protect children from all forms of malnutrition.
The Princess said addressing food insecurity requires more than food-related interventions. It must also tackle water scarcity, climate change, livelihoods, social protection and women's economic empowerment.
In the presence of Farah Daghistani, Executive Director of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), the Princess discussed the contributions of rural women, families and young people in villages, desert communities and refugee camps, describing them as essential partners in strengthening food security.
She discussed the role of social responsibility in raising nutritional awareness, promoting healthy choices and developing sustainable food systems capable of ensuring safe and nutritious food for all.
Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Chair of the Higher Council for Food Security Saeb Khreisat said Jordan's positive food security indicators reflect coordinated national efforts, urging sustained progress and preparations for future challenges.
He added that the agricultural sector grew by 7.8 percent in the second quarter of 2026, contributing 4.5 percent to GDP, while Jordan's date exports generate around $90 million annually and provide approximately 12,000 jobs, including 5,000 for women.
World Food Programme Representative and Country Director in Jordan Antonella D'Aprile commended the Kingdom's food security policies, warning that global and regional geopolitical challenges continue to threaten food supplies.
Meanwhile, FAO Representative in Jordan Thaer Yaseen said the SOFI report showed improvements in Jordan's food security indicators, with undernourishment declining to 12.2 percent, child wasting standing at 2.3 percent, and the proportion of people unable to afford a healthy diet falling to 2.2 percent.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report is jointly prepared by several UN agencies and serves as a key reference for monitoring progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 2 of ending hunger by 2030.
//Petra// AK