MoU strengthens agricultural research, development in Jordan's badia region

AMMAN — The Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordan Badia and the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to develop cooperation related to scientific research mechanisms and agricultural development.

Fund Director General Jamal Fayez and AARINENA Executive Secretary Rida Khawaldeh signed the memo in the presence of HRH Princess Basma Bint Ali, chairperson of the board of trustees of the fund, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Following the signing ceremony, Fayez said the memorandum aims to enhance cooperation between the two sides in scientific research, training, building capacity, stimulating innovation, exchanging ideas and expertise to encourage the development process in Jordan's badia, and benefit from badia's resources and advantages.

He added that building cooperation and networking with regional and international research institutions promotes the fund's objectives via "well-considered" scientific planning, which establish productive, developmental projects and advanced programmes that enable badia residents develop their communities. 

For his part, Khawaldeh said that the Jordan badia, along with the Jordan Valley and other agricultural areas, should be looked at as the Kingdom's "future food basket", which requires more attention to badia, including the application of modern agricultural and production tools.

He also called for supporting small-scale farmers who constitute 70 per cent of the total workforce in the Kingdom's agricultural sector.