A recent World Bank report showed that Jordan’s Agriculture Resilience, Value Chain Development and Innovation Program, known as “Ardi,” has strengthened the capacity of 111,508 farmers to cope with climate risks and provided agricultural services and assets to 63,812 farmers, while developing rainwater harvesting and storage capacity exceeding 2.24 million cubic meters.
According to the World Bank’s program implementation progress report, as translated by Al-Mamlaka, the number of people whose capacity to cope with climate risks was strengthened rose from 94,101 in January to 111,508 in June. They included 54,412 women and 37,132 young people, against a final target of 309,550 people by 2030.
The number of farmers benefiting from agricultural services and assets also increased from 46,404 to 63,812 during the same period. Beneficiaries included 11,075 women, 25,784 young people and 739 refugees, including 473 women refugees, compared with an overall target of 112,303 farmers by the end of the program. The number of young beneficiaries has already exceeded the final target of 22,460.
These results were achieved under a program with total financing of $241 million. Of this amount, $116.95 million, or 48.53%, has been disbursed, while $124.05 million remains undisbursed, according to World Bank financial data.
The funding consists of two financing packages totaling $185.6 million, of which $87.12 million has been disbursed, and four trust-fund grants totaling $55.4 million, of which $29.83 million has been disbursed.
Of the first $95.6 million financing package, around $64.45 million, or 67.42%, has been disbursed. From the second package of $90 million, $22.67 million, or 25.19%, has been disbursed. Disbursement rates for the four trust-fund financings ranged between 25.02% and 100%.
Water Harvesting and Training
In water harvesting, the program has developed sustainable rainwater harvesting and storage capacity of 2,243,520 cubic meters, against a final target of 16.17 million cubic meters by 2030.
A total of 10,650 households in Badia areas have benefited from improved water availability for livestock, compared with 3,000 households in the previous assessment and a final target of 22,950 households.
The results also showed that 3,313 farmers completed training in climate-smart agriculture techniques, including 1,840 women and 334 refugees. This compares with 1,400 farmers in the previous assessment and a target of 8,000 farmers.
The training included the use of tools supported by virtual-reality technologies alongside traditional methods.
Under programs aimed at aligning skills with labor-market needs, 2,169 women and 804 refugees completed training, including 483 women refugees. However, the number of trainees who remained employed by employers after completing the training remained at zero, against a target of 3,878 trainees.
Agricultural Production Development
Under the agricultural production development component, nurseries supported by the program distributed 852,000 drought-resistant seedlings, up from 452,136 in the previous assessment, out of a target of 1.8 million seedlings.
The rehabilitation of three nurseries operated by the Ministry of Agriculture and two regional veterinary service centers has also been completed, along with the preparation of a five-year plan to develop veterinary services through 2027.
The World Bank rated progress toward achieving the program’s development objectives as “satisfactory,” while overall implementation progress was rated “moderately satisfactory.” Overall risks remained at a “substantial” level.
The World Bank approved the program on September 29, 2022, and it became effective on November 10 of the same year. It is scheduled to continue until September 30, 2030, with the aim of strengthening climate resilience and creating an enabling environment for agricultural development across targeted value chains.
Value Chains and Agricultural Exports
Under the agricultural value-chain and export development component, indicators showed no results as of June 2026 in the number of producers participating in agricultural product traceability systems, against a target of 750 producers.
There were also no recorded results in the value of agricultural and food exports covered by these systems, against a target of $5 million.
The value of certified fruit and vegetable seeds for export also remained at zero, compared with a target of $18 million. Additional sales through export markets, e-commerce platforms and rural fairs likewise remained at zero, against a target of $5 million.
In digital agricultural extension services, no farmers had yet registered for digital services, against a target of 12,000 farmers. Meanwhile, the number of farmers meeting the indicator for obtaining financing from the Agricultural Credit Corporation and adopting water-saving technologies remained at zero, compared with a target of 1,960 farmers.
Results-based financing allocations include $44.34 million for water harvesting, $34.96 million for agricultural extension and animal health, $65.6 million for value-chain and export development, $29.86 million for skills development and employment opportunities, and $56 million to strengthen the Ministry of Agriculture’s implementation capacity.
These results-based allocations differ from the amounts actually disbursed under the program.
On the institutional side, the report noted the launch of a new financial and banking system at the Agricultural Credit Corporation and the completion of 129 procurement transactions through the government’s electronic procurement system. Work also continued to align accounting policies with international standards.
Source: Al-Mamlaka
