His Majesty King Abdullah underlined on Thursday the need to expand and accelerate the implementation of a strategic national fodder project.
His Majesty made his remarks while inspecting Al Mohammadiya fodder project implemented by the Hashemite Fund for Badia Development (HFBD) in the north of Maan Governorate, about 210km from Amman.
The first phase of the project, implemented over a 50,000- dunum plot of land, meets the Kingdom's annual need of barley seeds, which stands at 2,000 tonnes. Jordan's annual consumption of fodder stands at 1.3 million tonnes, of which 80 per cent are imported.
During a tour of several parts of Al Mohammadiya project, Sharifa Zein Bint Nasser, a member of the HFBD's board of trustees and a consultant to the fund, briefed King Abdullah on the fund's vision and goals.
She said the project included planting some 55,000 olive and palm trees, adding that work is under way to diversify the crops planted. The project, which relies on the use of underground water, created some 30 jobs, she noted.
During the visit, also attended by Senator Faisal Fayez, who chairs HFBD's board of trustees, and several other officials, Sharifa Zein said the fund will implement similar projects this year in the eastern and southern parts of the Kingdom, while other areas will be covered in the future.
Minister of Agriculture Saeed Masri said Al Mohammadiya project is with a component of the nationwide fodder project, which was launched last year, and is part of efforts to realise food security in the Kingdom.
Stressing the significance of planting crops that the Kingdom currently imports at high prices, Masri said work is under way to draw up plans to implement water harvesting programmes to be used for irrigating projects that entail planting fodder and grains.
HFBD Director Omar Rafi said the national fodder project comprises three agricultural projects.
Under the programme, a total of 20,000 dunums in Rweished will be developed for planting fodder and barley, while 4,500 dunums will be planted with fruit trees in Al Hassa area.
Another project will also be implemented in the Sabha reserve in the eastern desert over an 8,000-dunum area.
© Jordan Times 2009
