AMMAN — Jordan has taken steps towards producing saltwater
fish to meet the rising demand on this highly nutritional food and ensuring the
best quality of farmed fish.
اضافة اعلان
The project, the initial stage of which is expected to
be fully operational in a little over a year, involves three players, namely
the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, the
UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the
Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority(ASEZA).
The three parties have signed an agreement to support
the implementation of the pilot project on land, in the nearby Wadi Araba
region, using
Red Sea water. Signing the agreement were Planning Minister
Nasser Al-Shraideh, FAO Jordan Representative Nabil Assaf, and ASEZA Chief
Commissioner Nayef Al-Bakhit.
Imported fish accounts for 98 percent of Jordan's
total fish needs, and with the increase in demand, fish production in Jordan
has become essential. Accordingly, the FAO has responded to a request by the
Ministry of Agriculture to develop a sustainable aquaculture strategy,
including fish farming, especially in Aqaba Governorate, Assaf told Jordan
News.
The intervention of the FAO, Assaf said, is in keeping
with its mandate as the agency concerned with food security and with the fight
against poverty and hunger, which are in line with the first and second goals
of the global sustainable development goals.
Projects such as this one are likely to advance the
national economy and enhance food security, especially in light of COVID-19, which
requires all concerned parties to work together to help boost the national
economy, implement action plans, and develop well-devised and feasible programs
in partnership with the private sector, Assaf said. The fish farming project
also represents a good model that meets the vision of His Majesty King
Abdullah, who has repeatedly called for efforts to reinforce food security.
The FAO is supporting the project under a technical
cooperation program at a total direct cost of approximately $160,000, to be
secured by the organization. After the prototype proves successful, support
will be directed towards other similar projects at a commercial level. With the
agreement in place, the project is ready for implementation within a year.
The types of fish that will be farmed include tilapia
and carp, using water from the Gulf of Aqaba.
ASEZA Commissioner for Environment and Territorial
Affairs Sulaiman Al-Najadat said one of the authority’s priorities is to enhance
food security in Jordan, especially through fish farming. “Because of limited
resources, we have found it is necessary to start fish farming outside the sea
through a sea water conveyance line,” he noted, adding that the project will
constitute an encouraging opportunity for fishermen, who will be assigned an
area to start fish hatcheries, voicing optimism about the success of the
experience, especially with the FAO’s expertise in this field.
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