Ammon News - Agriculture Minister Saeb Khraisat stressed on Wednesday the importance of empowering Arab women in the agricultural sector and providing them access to sustainable finance to develop their projects and support the transition to circular agriculture as a path toward regional food security.

He was addressing a high-level regional dialogue on empowering women through financing policies to advance circular agriculture in the Arab Region, organized by the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) with participation by agriculture ministers of member Arab states.

Women are a key pillar in agricultural development, and their economic and knowledge empowerment is essential to enhancing local production and improving rural livelihoods, the minister said.

He highlighted Jordan’s focus on women’s participation in all stages of agricultural production through training programs and entrepreneurial projects implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with development stakeholders.

He called the dialogue as "a key platform" for exchanging experiences among Arab countries on green financing and sustainable agricultural projects, stressing the need for coordinated regional efforts to adopt flexible and inclusive financing policies that address women's needs in rural areas and promote innovation in natural resource management.

Ibrahim Dukhairi, Director-General of AOAD, told Petra the meeting aligns with the organization’s efforts to strengthen Arab cooperation in sustainable agriculture and promote circular agriculture, which reuses resources and reduces waste to address environmental and economic challenges in the region.

The first day of the debate featured remarks by Arab ministers and international experts on developing women-supportive financing policies, capacity building, technical training, and showcasing successful women-led initiatives in agricultural production, water management, and renewable energy.

The dialogue aims to set priorities for joint Arab action in women’s empowerment, improving access to agricultural financing, and supporting SMEs that contribute to sustainable rural development.

Petra