Amman, Feb. 18 (Petra) - Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Hneifat, and Secretary-General of Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), Hisham Heisah, representing the Minister of Water and Irrigation, on Tuesday signed an agreement to afforest roadsides in Mafraq governate.

Under the agreement, 200 cubic meters of treated water will be pumped to plant 10 kilometers of the governorate's roadsides and secure trees needed for the new afforestation initiative.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Hneifat said the ministry, within the framework of the 10 million tree planting project and the national afforestation axis in the National Plan for Sustainable Agriculture, is working to benefit from treated water in expanding the Kingdom's green area, especially on the desert highway.

Using the Cocoon technique, the minister said roadside afforestation and artificial plantations were carried out, mainly Jubilee Forest and economic industrial forests in the Kingdom's northern regions.

Hneifat added that "suitable" forest trees will be planted, mainly, acacia and casania, and other species that fit the Kingdom's desert environment.

Meanwhile, Heisah noted the agreement aims to confront climate challenges, reduce drought and expand the green area by taking advantage of non-traditional water sources.

The Kingdom's water sector provides 200 million cubic meters annually of treated water that farmers benefit from in growing fodder and increasing green areas, he pointed out.
//Petra// AG

18/02/2025 17:37:57