Agreement for the Ministry of Agriculture to implement the "Olive Economy Horizons" project to enhance sector sustainability
Amman3 min read
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Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Saeb Khreisat, signed the project document for "Olive Economy Horizons: A Pathway to Sustainable Food Systems in Jordan (2026–2027)," with a total cost of 4 million US dollars, within the framework of the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and United Nations agencies, aiming to enhance the sustainability of the olive sector, develop food systems, and support the agricultural sector's ability to face climate and economic challenges.
The signing took place in the presence of the UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan, Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan, Randa Aboul-Hosn, alongside a number of representatives from the United Nations and the UNDP.
Khreisat emphasized the importance of the project in enhancing the sustainability of the Jordanian olive sector and developing its value chains, improving productivity, quality, and competitiveness through an integrated package of interventions that include developing regulatory frameworks, strengthening institutional coordination, digital transformation, and implementing tracking systems for olive and olive oil products, in addition to enhancing the readiness of small and medium enterprises and cooperatives to access finance and investment, and providing modern equipment and technologies.
The project also includes developing databases and digital maps for olive groves, strengthening quality and tracking systems, and supporting innovation and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, which contributes to increasing production efficiency, improving product quality, and enhancing market access opportunities.
Khreisat explained that the project prioritizes expanding benefit opportunities for producers, especially small farmers, and projects led by women and youth, regarding technical services, finance, and markets, in a way that supports the growth of agricultural and cooperative projects and stimulates investment in the olive sector and its production and marketing chains.
Khreisat indicated that the new funding allocated to the project amounts to 2 million US dollars, provided by the UN Joint SDG Fund under the High Impact track, in addition to 2 million dollars from the resources and existing projects of the participating UN agencies, bringing the total project budget to 4 million dollars.
The implementation of the project comes within the framework of efforts aimed at developing the Jordanian olive sector, enhancing its economic and environmental sustainability, increasing the efficiency of its production and marketing chains, and improving the added value of products, which contributes to supporting producers and cooperatives, enhancing food security, adapting to climate change, and achieving sustainable agricultural development in the Kingdom.
In turn, the UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan, Sheri Anderson, valued the level of cooperation and partnership existing with the Ministry of Agriculture, stressing the importance of continuing joint work to implement strategic projects and programs that contribute to developing the agricultural sector, improving the investment environment, and enhancing food security by providing technical and financial support to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the Kingdom.
