King directs gov't to utilise agricultural stations for incubating advanced projects

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday directed the government to utilise the Ministry of Agriculture’s stations to incubate advanced agricultural projects.

During an unannounced visit to the Oheida agricultural station in Maan Governorate, King Abdullah noted the importance of partnering with the private sector to capitalise on these stations, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty also urged the evaluation and reactivation of all agricultural stations, in terms of management and methods of farming, irrigation and crop cultivation.

The King said the local community should be the first to benefit from the station through employment and training in modern agricultural methods, the statement said.

The Oheida station, which includes an integrated infrastructure and extends over an area of 2,000 dunums, has a variety of crops, including olive trees, pistachio trees and grape orchards, and employs 35 workers from the local community.

The Ministry of Agriculture has 12 productive agricultural stations across the governorates, as well as stations dedicated to producing seedlings for distribution to farmers.