AMMAN, August 6. /Dunyo IA/. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural scientific research and the exchange of plant and animal genetic materials has been signed in Amman between Ministry of Agriculture of Jordan and National Center for Agricultural Research, on the one hand, and the Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute under the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, on the other hand, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing with Jordan’s “Al Mashhad Al Youm” information agency.

Dr. Saeb Abdel Halim Al-Khraisat, Minister of Agriculture of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, during his meeting with the Uzbek delegation, which included a number of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, emphasized the depth of the bilateral relations between the Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

According to a statement by the Ministry, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was carried out in implementation of the provisions of the Executive Program for Cooperation between Ministries of Agriculture of Jordan and Uzbekistan, which was reached following a previously held high-level visit.

Dr. Saeb Abdel Halim Al-Khraisat emphasized that Memorandum aims to strengthen and develop cooperation between the research centers of the two countries in the field of agricultural scientific research, including the sustainable use and exchange of genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as relevant expertise and to enhance research capacities, contributing to achieving food security and sustainable agricultural development in both countries.

He noted that this cooperation forms the foundation for a sustainable scientific and research partnership between the two sides through the implementation of joint experiments and research aimed at evaluating and developing targeted plant species and varieties, exchanging expertise, scientific and technical knowledge, as well as organizing mutual scientific and field visits for researchers and specialists from the two countries.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Uzbek side was provided with samples of cereal and vegetable crop seeds preserved at the National Seed Bank, which are characterized by their ability to tolerate salinity caused by soil or irrigation water salinization. These samples will enable their use in research programs and agricultural experiments aimed at developing varieties better adapted to saline-affected environments.

In turn, the Uzbek side provided Jordan with samples of cereal and vegetable crop seeds aimed at introducing (acclimatizing) salt-tolerant varieties, within the framework of the exchange of plant genetic resources and their use in the research and development programs of the two countries.

Within the framework of research cooperation between the two sides, a number of Awassi sheep were provided to the Uzbek side in order to utilize the outstanding genetic characteristics of this breed, as well as to support genetic improvement programs and the development of animal production.

Uzbek side expressed its gratitude and appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Center for Agricultural Research for their efforts in facilitating and strengthening agricultural cooperation between the two countries, agency reports.