Ammon News - The Italian Ambassador to Jordan, Fabio Cassese, and the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Jordan, Nabil Assaf, on Sunday signed a million-euro agreement to enhance the resilience of vulnerable Jordanian communities through the "Sustainable Production and Use of Agricultural Resources (SPUAR)" project funded by the Italian government, Jordan News Agency Petra reported.

This initiative targets the most vulnerable communities that suffer from inadequate economic infrastructure. Specifically, the initiative seeks to upgrade the social protection network in Ma'an Governorate, which is the largest governorate in the Kingdom and one of the poorest, according to the Department of Statistics.

"Recognizing the importance of supporting the agriculture sector and the sustainable management of natural resources in a country like Jordan facing the challenges of desertification, drought and land degradation, Italy’s partnership with FAO focuses on the actions needed to counter the detrimental impact of resource scarcity on human development and poverty," said Ambassador Cassese.

Water scarcity is one of Jordan's main challenges and constrains the country's economic development, especially in the agricultural sector. The demand for water resources for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes is increasing, with the agricultural sector consuming about 510 million cubic meters (51%) of the available fresh water annually, according to Petra.

For his part, Assaf said: "FAO is responding to water scarcity in Jordan. This project will be implemented in southern Jordan, targeting the most vulnerable families in Ma'an Governorate by creating non-conventional water resources through rainwater harvesting to support agriculture and enhance the well-being of those targeted".

In turn, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Jordan (AICS), Emilio Cabasino said: "Through this two-year project, we aim to target a total of 120 families (660 people), including those headed by women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The interventions will include the provision of rooftop water harvesting systems and food processing equipment. This is in addition to a capacity-building program to equip beneficiaries with the necessary skills to maximize the use of natural agricultural resources and enhance their livelihoods."