Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Minister of Agriculture, Akef Al Zoubi, on Wednesday, stressed the importance of cooperation with UN World Food Programme (WFP) in implementing joint projects in rural communities.

The minister made the remarks during the signing of a cooperation agreement with the UN agency in Amman. The agreement aims to forge closer cooperation with the WFP.

The agreement, signed by the minister and the WFP's regional director, Maha Ahmed, aims to implement short-term food security projects for rural households affected by adverse economic situation, exacerbated by the Syrian crisis.

Under the agreement, a cash-for-work aid will be distributed and more than a 1,000 people will be employed in afforestation projects across the Kingdom. Moreover, a cash-for-training scheme will cover more than 200 persons for a period of four months, until the end of this year.

The UN agency will be paying some $811,000 during the first phase of the project, while the total cost of the scheme will reach $24 million. Meanwhile, the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture will account for $10 million of the UN aid.

The UN official praised the efforts exerted by the ministry to achieve the objectives of the project, which aims to serve a large number of citizens and will positively benefit local communities through cash-for-work and cash-for-training activities.

*Petra