Amman, January 19 (Petra) – Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hunaifat met on Sunday with Director-General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) Berik Erin, Kazakh Ambassador to the Kingdom Talgat Shaldanbay, and Director of the Humanitarian Programs and Projects Unit Emre Yuksel to discuss enhancing collaboration in agriculture and food security.

Hunaifat underscored ties between Jordan and Kazakhstan, commending the IOFS’s efforts to promote joint initiatives aimed at advancing the agricultural sector. He highlighted the challenges facing agriculture, emphasizing the ministry's commitment to working with all stakeholders to address these obstacles, develop supply chains, and enhance agricultural production among the IOFS member states. He also called for strengthened partnerships with Islamic nations to bolster trade exchange and private-sector networking.

The minister outlined plans for 2025, focusing on developing the food industry and implementing joint initiatives with international organizations. He emphasized leveraging the Regional Food Security Observatory to execute plans, training programs, and operational frameworks. Additionally, he highlighted the ministry’s commitment to the National Plan for Sustainable Agriculture (2022–2025) and the Strategic Plan for Food Security (2021–2023).

Hunaifat emphasized the ministry’s strategy to support smallholder farmers and agricultural alliances, fostering sustainable food production while creating employment opportunities. He noted that these initiatives aim to reduce poverty, empower rural families, and enhance agricultural productivity through financing and capacity-building programs.

The IOFS delegation commended Jordan's achievements in advancing the agricultural sector despite resource constraints.

Erin affirmed the organization’s readiness to implement projects in Jordan focusing on wheat cultivation, olive and palm farming, honey production, and water management. He added that IOFS will offer training programs to further support the country’s agricultural development and food security efforts.

//Petra// AJ

19/01/2025 15:15:20