Royal initiative project for Northern Badia launched

AMMAN — Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi on Wednesday attended the launching of a Royal initiative meant to activate the role of the cooperative sector in the development process.  

Under the first phase of the initiative, which is intended to support the Northern Badia region of Mafraq, five productive projects — in the fields of agriculture and agricultural manufacturing — will be established, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The initiative, the first of its kind that would activate the role of the cooperative sector in the development process through creating productive projects of the cooperative associations, aims to support sustainable development in local communities, improve the families' standard of living, provide job opportunities and raise awareness of the importance of cooperative work and its role in promoting the development process.

During the launching ceremony at the Royal Court, five agreements were signed to implement the projects under the initiative, out of which four were made between the Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordan Badia (HFDJB) and four cooperative associations.

The agreements were signed by HRH Princess Basma Bint Ali, chairperson of the board of trustees of the HFDJB and heads of the cooperative societies. 

The projects would provide 30 new jobs, in addition to income for the 290 families' members of cooperatives, in addition to five families in need in the local community.

Issawi, who is also head of the follow-up committee for the implementation of Royal initiatives, expressed hope that the first phase of these income-generating projects, which were subjected to feasibility studies, could be a tool against poverty and unemployment in the Northern Badia, noting that the initiative would reach other parts of the Kingdom.

Princess Basma Bint Ali expressed hope that the fund's partnership with the Royal Court and the cooperative sector would achieve the royal vision pertaining to reaching comprehensive and sustainable development through the implementation and management of these projects in accordance with international standards, as well as through the optimal use of natural resources, notably water.

She also stressed the importance of the initiative's projects, including a hydroponics project, a project using reclaimed water in the cultivation of fodder corn, a tomato-drying project, and a beekeeping project.

The princess highlighted the project's role in water conservation, notably using non-conventional water sources, and direct sunlight for tomato drying, as well as the importance of the beekeeping project. The princess stressed keenness to follow up on the implementation of these projects.

The princess also reviewed the HFDJB's efforts through the small grants programme. 

The programme, the princess mentioned, is intended to support civil society institutions, youth, sports and cultural centres which carry out income-generating projects, provide job opportunities, and enhance communication and cooperation between the government and the locals of the Jordanian Badia.