AMMAN — The Ministry of Social Development and the National Agricultural Research Centre are cooperating to "empower youth and families in local communities” through the establishment of home-based agriculture projects.

Minister of Social Development Ayman Mufleh on Tuesday visited the National Centre for Agricultural Research to discuss means of future cooperation in the field of home-based farming that could "bring sustainable living to a number of vulnerable families,” said Ashraf Khreis, the ministry’s spokesperson.

"The minister was briefed on the experiences of the centre in the field of hydroponics, rooftop farming, tissue culture applications, medicinal and ornamental plants,” said Khreis, adding that these research areas will be "taught to youth and local vulnerable families to generate income”.

The minister said that the ministry is "looking to launch pioneering development projects for youth and vulnerable families in response to the Royal directives to empower them with the aim of reducing poverty and unemployment rate as well as creating societies based on the concept of self-reliance and productivity in their homes”.

"The rooftop farming projects require training by the research cadres at the centre to yield positive results that would benefit the trainees and achieve the goal of turning vulnerable population segments into sustainable societies,” said Director General of the National Centre for Agricultural Research Nizar Haddad.

Haddad welcomed the future cooperation between the centre and the ministry, expressing his centre’s "willingness to provide scientific and technical expertise that contribute to empowering societies”.

"The implementation of the noble Royal visions can only be done by focusing on the agricultural sector, especially given the situation that the Kingdom is going through as a result of the pandemic,” said the centre’s director, adding that "creating opportunities for the youth and vulnerable families at home will sustain family productivity and achieve economic and social integration”