AMMAN — A recent UN Policy Brief has stated that around half of
Jordanians are susceptible to food insecurity, while around 3 percent of
Jordanian families are currently denied food security, according to Jo24.
اضافة اعلان
The policy brief entitled “Towards the Implementation of
Jordan's Food Security Strategy” reaffirmed the importance of adopting a recently
issued national food strategy, which will ensure the Kingdom’s transition
towards sustainable food systems.
The brief also indicated that “Jordan faces significant
challenges including a fragmented legislative framework, inefficient and
insufficient efforts towards improving water use, dependence on imported foods
and the repercussions of COVID-19 on the socio-economic conditions in the
country.”
Moreover, food security stress resulting from
COVID-19 has
affected sustainable development efforts, stated in the 2021-2030 food security
strategy, according to the brief.
Statistics indicate that around 53 percent of Jordanians are
vulnerable to food insecurity, while the agriculture sector consumes more than
50 percent of available water to produce 45 percent of the countries
agricultural needs. The brief also indicated that 55 percent of Jordan’s food
staples are wheat and imported grains.
To enhance food security, and combat “hunger” the
UN recommends
increased coordination between the various stakeholders, such as forming a
joint executive committee of all government institutions; one with a clear
mandate under the umbrella of the prime ministry.
The UN also recommends undertaking legal and organizational
reforms and setting up a food security data base to facilitate data collection
and analysis of food security indicators, covering the national and
sub-national levels, in addition to establishing a regional food security
center.
Support to small farmers and food producers, in addition to
advancing water supply technology, contributing to school nutrition and
reducing food waste, were also among the UN recommendations.
The UN also cautioned against a sharp hike in commodity prices,
which it said may lead to famine, particularly in light of the recent
developments in Ukraine. UN officials
have warned that events in Ukraine will have repercussions on the entire
world’s food security.
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