Agricultural projects move women from unemployment to production in Jordan

The Al Qatrana Directorate of Agriculture in the Karak Governorate of Jordan provides training and technical assistance to help women establish home gardening and small rural projects.

These initiatives aim to combat high poverty and unemployment rates in the Al Qatrana District, a region where job opportunities are shrinking for many families. The directorate supports women in creating projects suited for the semi-desert environment, such as growing vegetables like onions, cabbage, and broccoli inside plastic greenhouses.

Participants also cultivate medicinal and aromatic plants like sage, thyme, and chamomile. These projects provide families with a source of income by allowing them to sell surplus produce while meeting their own household needs. Local women report that these programs have changed their lives by providing stable livelihoods. One woman, Um Atiyeh, who is 56, became a breadwinner for her family after starting a home farming project.

Another woman, Um Eman, a university graduate who struggled with unemployment, now runs a seasonal farming project. The directorate also offers training courses to help women manage their greenhouses and improve production levels. The Al Qatrana District faces significant economic challenges, with poverty rates reaching between 23% and 33% for its 20,000 residents. Unemployment among young people who are able to work exceeds 37%.

The directorate views these rural development projects as a foundation for local initiatives that empower women and strengthen the local economy through sustainable agriculture and livestock rearing.