The Ministry of Agriculture has formalized a JD5-million initiative to develop a citrus and vegetable processing center. This facility will encompass grading, packing, waxing, and sorting capabilities, alongside cold storage for approximately 12,000 tons of produce. The project's objective is to mitigate the disparity between demand and local production throughout the year, as reported by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
The agreement was officiated by Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat, President of the Jordan Valley Citrus Farmers Cooperative Association Ahmed Ghazawi, Mayor of Sharhabil Bin Hasna Municipality Mohammed Maraiha, and Mayor of Tabaqat Fahl Municipality Katheeb Ghazawi.
This initiative aligns with the Royal modernization vision and the National Plan for Sustainable Agriculture (2022-2025), focusing on enhancing the agricultural sector, upgrading its value chain, fostering innovation, improving services, and expanding exports. The ministry identified gaps in production and supply chains during certain agricultural seasons, leading to price volatility. The new center aims to address these issues by balancing supply and demand, ensuring a stable stockpile to enhance food security, and creating employment opportunities.
The ministry emphasized the necessity of specialized skills in efficient harvesting, including training on optimal picking techniques, precise timing, and best practices for sorting, grading, waxing, and cold storage. The agreement also underscores the importance of investing in advanced water technologies to improve long-term agricultural competitiveness. By encouraging private investment, the project seeks to enhance the income-generating capacity of farmer cooperatives and bolster their market position.
Source: Jordan Times
