PM presides over signing of 14 agreements

AMMAN — Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz on Thursday attended the signing ceremony of several agreements and two memoranda of understanding among the ministries of Agriculture and Environment, local environment societies, the Jordan Agriculture Engineers Association (JAEA), the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organisation (JSMO) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. 

During the ceremony held at the Prime Ministry, Razzaz attended the signing of 14 agreements between the Agriculture Ministry, the Environment Ministry and environment societies, which are part of the national afforestation project that was launched in July with the aim of increasing the green cover in the Kingdom through planting 10 million trees over 10 years.

The prime minister said that the afforestation “is not merely about planting trees”, but also about “instilling the values of loyalty and morals among our youth and working as a team”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Environment Minister and Acting Minister of Agriculture Saleh Kharabsheh said that the project helps Jordan fulfill its commitment towards international agreements pertaining to climate change, biodiversity and anti-desertification, according to Petra.

Razzaz also witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture and the JSMO and the JAEA to launch a project to encourage organic agriculture in Jerash and Ajloun.

The premier also attended the signing of an agreement to implement the project “Enhancing sustainable living conditions and food security for Syrian refugee host communities through boosting sustainable agricultural development” between the Ministry of Agriculture and the FAO with a value of $12.5 million. 

FAO Resident Representative Nabil Assaf said that the agreement aims at supporting living conditions of small-scale  farmers to help them secure their food security and enhance their activities, as well as revamping agricultural training and guidance centres across the Kingdom.