jordan pulse -

Minister of Agriculture Saeb Khreisat said that plans to establish a national forum for agricultural extension and advisory services reflect Jordan’s advanced position as a regional model in developing such services.

Speaking Tuesday at the first national consultative workshop on strengthening rural extension services, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Amman, Khreisat said the initiative seeks to build an integrated national system by developing an interactive agricultural extension platform, particularly in field-level digital transformation. He pointed out that the platform aims to provide integrated, data-driven services based on direct communication with farmers.

Khreisat added that the workshop marks a starting point for reviewing the current state of agricultural extension, identifying gaps, and drawing on regional and international experience to improve services provided to farmers.

According to a FAO statement, the one-day workshop brought together stakeholders from the national, regional, and international levels. It aimed to promote a more coordinated and inclusive national approach to rural extension services and represented a key step toward establishing a Jordanian forum for agricultural extension and advisory services.

FAO Acting Representative in Jordan Opio Paul said rural extension services are essential to improving productivity, strengthening resilience, and ensuring that farmers, especially smallholders, women, and youth, have access to the knowledge and support needed to adapt and thrive.

He said a national platform such as the proposed forum could strengthen coordination, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support the delivery of more effective and impactful services.

Faten Adada, officer in charge of the day-to-day management of the Rural Transformation Team at FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, said rural extension services are not merely about transferring knowledge, but serve as a strategic tool for building resilience, promoting inclusion, and supporting sustainable rural transformation.

She added that strengthening national systems and partnerships can help ensure that farmers, particularly women and youth, are empowered with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

The workshop was held amid growing challenges facing Jordan’s agricultural sector, including water scarcity, climate variability, rising production costs, and declining rural livelihoods.

The proposed forum aims to address these gaps by serving as a national platform that strengthens cooperation among government institutions, research bodies, universities, civil society organizations, and the private sector. It will operate under the umbrella of the Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services, align with the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services, and draw on regional and global best practices.

The workshop concluded with an agreement to form a core multi-stakeholder team to finalize the framework of the Jordanian forum for agricultural extension and advisory services, prepare its bylaws and action plan, and move toward its official launch in line with the National Agricultural Extension Plan 2024–2030.

//Petra// AO