Jordan Valley Authority signs 44 land lease agreements

AMMAN — The Jordan Valley Authority on Monday signed  44 cooperation agreements with the local community in the Jordan Valley and local investment companies in order to lease 900 dunums of land.

The land is intended to be used for establishing agricultural development projects, including agricultural ventures, animal production and fish farming. Manar Al Mahasneh, the authority’s secretary general, said that the agreements include leasing authority-owned parcels of land for locals to establish ventures in fruit trees, palms, olives, guava and bananas, in addition to crops, including wheat, barley and vegetables, and raising fish, bees and livestock, which would generate more than 150 jobs opportunities.

The agreements’ main objectives include maintaining the sustainability of the agricultural projects, improving the valley to provide job opportunities for the locals and making the region attractive for investments, she said, noting that the regulations stipulate that workers must be locals, according to an authority statement.