Yesterday, Tuesday, a cooperation agreement was signed in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation between the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) represented by its Secretary General, Engineer Hisham Al-Haisa, and the Jordan Dates Association (JODA) represented by its president, Engineer Anwar Haddad.
This agreement aims to improve the Kingdom’s production of dates and enhance its competition in the international markets, by improving the water management services provided by the Authority to date palm farmers in the valley. And by exchanging experiences and information, and encouraging the use of latest technologies in managing irrigation water for the date palm sector. In addition to educating and guiding farmers on the optimal use of water resources, using modern irrigation techniques and methods to prevent waste, and improving ground drainage services in agricultural units, and providing JVA’s laboratory services to farmers. Along with building databases for this vital and important sector that constitutes high economic importance as an employer of Jordanian labor, and an important contributor to empowering women in the valley.
During his meeting with the Board of Directors of the Jordan Dates Association (JODA) and the signing of the agreement, His Excellency Eng. Hisham Al-Haisa, Secretary General of the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), stressed the importance of providing all forms of support to farmers and building effective cooperation with civil private sector institutions in implementation of the royal directives to provide the appropriate environment for the advancement of national agriculture and enabling it to compete in markets. As well as developing, modernizing, enhancing, and strengthening cooperation links between the government sector and the private sector, especially in the areas of managing irrigation allocated water.
Eng. Al-Haisa also stressed that JVA will work to provide all capabilities for the success of national agriculture, such as the cultivation of date palms, which has achieved tangible success. He indicated that the date palms in the Jordan Valley are considered one of the most efficient crops in using water, especially in light of conditions of climate change, water shortages, and increased pressure according to JVA’s sources. Furthermore indicating that the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) has many programs and projects to advance this cultivation by providing the appropriate environment and making it easier for farmers, calling on them to adopt modern agricultural patterns and benefit from the unique advantage of the Jordan Valley environment.
For his part, Eng. Anwar Haddad, President of the Jordan Dates Association (JODA), praised the ongoing cooperation with JVA, stressing that JODA’s goal is to develop, sustain and develop the date palm sector and its producers in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan through a number of regulatory, promotional and marketing activities. Along with raising the capabilities of palm farmers and improving their optimal agricultural practices, of which water management. This is considered one of the most important inputs that affects production quantitatively and qualitatively, expressing his appreciation for the distinguished efforts made by the Jordan Valley Authority and constructive cooperation to overcome all obstacles facing our fellow farmers.
Stressing that, this memorandum of understanding will be translated into programs that serve the palm sector in the Jordan Valley, and JODA is fully prepared to participate and contribute to supporting the role played by the cadres of JVA. This cooperation between the public and private sectors will be a model to be emulated. Haddad also stressed that the agreement includes topics that address most of the water problems and challenges facing date palm growers.
