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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister, Omar Razzaz, has attended on Thursday the signing ceremony of several afforestation agreements with national stakeholders aimed to plant 10 million tress over 10 years.

Signed at the Prime Ministry, the 14 agreements, which were signed between the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment and environmental associations in Kingdom's various regions, come within the national afforestation project launched last July.

The national project aims to increase the green area at Jordan's level in cooperation with governmental and semi-government institutions, and civil society organizations, by planting 10 million trees over 10 years.

During the the signing ceremony, Razzaz said the afforestation effort is also related to "entrenching the values of allegiance" among our youth and to work in a team spirit, in a way that enhances assuming joint responsibility at the national, regional and global levels.

Lauding efforts of environmental associations in the agricultural and environmental sectors, Razzaz pointed to the government's endeavor to overcome any difficulties and obstacles facing their work.
In turn, the Minister of Environment, acting Minister of Agriculture, Saleh Kharabsheh, said the national afforestation project helps achieve Jordan's commitments to international agreements related to climate change, biodiversity and combating desertification.

The minister also noted the projects would job opportunities for young people, adding the Ministry of Agriculture is working on amending the instructions to enable the forest's neighbors cultivate medicinal and aromatic plants with a large market.

Kharabsheh stressed the importance of the strategic partners from local associations to contribute to the implementation of the project and build on strengthening the joint cooperation in the future.

Razzaz also attended the signing of an agreement to implement the project: "Promoting sustainable livelihoods and food security for the host communities of Syrian refugees by promoting sustainable agricultural development" between the Ministry of Agriculture and the United Nations International Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at a value of about $12.5 million.

After the signing ceremony, Razzaz stressed the importance of the partnership with the FAO and to benefit from its expertise in supporting small farmers, especially since large agricultural companies have all the necessary technologies.

Razzaz stressed the need to help small farmers to enter the market "strongly" by benefiting from the FAO's cumulative experiences on "productive" afforestation.

For his part, Kharabsheh said this agreement will help the ministry strengthen and support small farmers by renovating the infrastructure to help lead to production, in addition to providing agricultural counseling services.

The ministry is working with the FAO on a project to digitize the agricultural sector, which will help provide guidance and advice to farmers and assessing risks, according to Kharabsheh.

In turn, the FAO's Resident Representative, Nabil Assaf, said the agreement aims to support the small farmers' livelihoods to achieve their food security and enhance their agricultural activity, in addition to rehabilitating centers for agricultural training and counseling services in the Kingdom.