As part of its activities and programs which aim at contributing in achieving food security in the Arab region, AAAID excels efforts towards participating in developing the agricultural sector in the Arab region. Its activities in this regard include:

1. Introducing modern production systems, such as irrigation systems, integrated technology packages, among other systems, and establishing modern production models to be followed by other investors.
2. Dissemination of modern production systems to farmers, specially small farmers, with the purpose of developing agriculture and effectively contributing in poverty alleviation in a sustainable manner. An example of this is the program for the dissemination of zero-tillage farming technology to farmers.
3. Contribute in the provision of basic services in the areas of its investment projects. A typical example of this are those provided in the project of the Arab Sudanese Blue Nile Agricultural Company, Agadi, Sudan, including, within other services, the construction of a 50 Km road which has a considerable impact on the different aspects of life in the area.
4. Contributing in the provision of basic developmental needs, especially to poor communities which suffer food shortages, with emphasis on vulnerable and poor communities, focusing on developing their farming activities and providing them with the means of production, with objective of contributing in poverty alleviation in a sustainable manner.

The following is a summary of the developmental activities mentioned in (4) above:

Many development projects and programs were implemented. They are classified according to member countries in which they were implemented, and outlined as follows:

Union of the Comoros:

In March 2006, the Board of Directors of AAAID allocated an amount of $300,000 for providing urgent assistance to farmers in the Union of the Comoros. The assistance was used to implement the following programs:

• Provision of agricultural inputs:
  
  Agricultural production inputs including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, spray equipment, and veterinary vaccines, for an amount of $75,000 were provided and sold to small farmers in coordination with Comoros farmers union in the area of Banda Samlin. The amounts received from selling those inputs would form a revolving capital to be used for the same purpose.
   

• Provision of production equipment for starting the activity of home goats rearing:
  
  The program aims at extending assistance to the poorest families with emphasis on the families supported by widows, elders and handicapped. The recipient families were selected by a local committee with its members from the natives and authorities in addition to the representative of AAAID. 135 severely poor families were provided with goats with the purpose of rearing and providing food to those families.
   

• A unit for agricultural equipment and machinery rental: 
  
  A base for an agricultural equipment and machinery rental unit was established to serve the villages surrounding the research and extension station of AAAID. The unit was provided with a truck and two tractors. Arrangements were being made for supplying the unit with necessary machinery and equipment.

• Station for developing agriculture in Hanzwan:
  
  In response to the request of the local government in the island of Hanzwan for developing the traditional agricultural sector, a developmental program was prepared to revitalize Hanzwan station for five years. AAAID would finance the project and manage it, within a cost of $500,000, for three years after which the project would depend on self-financing. The implementation procedures were completed at the end of the year 2006. Implementation will start during the year 2007.

Palestine:

As part of the contribution of AAAID in providing relief to the people of Palestine in the occupied territories, the Board of Shareholders of AAAID allocated 10% of profits to the people of Palestine. Accordingly, the following achievements were made:

• AAAID signed an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) according to which AAAID contributed $2 million to the microfinance and income generation program. The program enables 2000 small native establishments to carry out their activities and provide a living to 14,600 individuals. The project also provided job opportunities to about 435 workers. The financing provided by AAAID to this project increases UNRWA's micro credits from 18,000 loans to 24,000 loans annually. As at 31.12.2006, 57% of the contribution amount was lent to small firms, 562 of which were in the West Bank and 239 were in Gaza, in addition to 126 women cooperative enterprises. Agricultural establishments constituted 24% of the recipient establishments. The finance amount provided by AAAID would be redeemed and utilized for lending other beneficiaries.
   

• A support in the amount of $35,000 was extended to the social services units in the units camp of Palestinian refugees in Amman. It included support to the health center, the development program for a girl school in the camp, and the micro credit program for Jordan camps. Also an amount of $250,000 was allocated to support the food security program for small farmers, beside an amount of $375,000 for poor families rehabilitation program.