Since His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein assumed his constitutional powers in 1999, His Majesty has given great attention to the agricultural sector, emphasizing that the sector is one of the national priorities, considering it a fundamental pillar for development in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions. His Majesty also directed to intensify efforts and cooperation among relevant entities to implement the goals of the National Food Security Strategy 2021-2030.
Chemical agricultural pesticides in various forms are an indispensable necessity in the agricultural sector. Although they play a positive role in protecting farms from the dangers of pests and plant diseases and increasing crop productivity, it is most important to know the appropriate chemical agricultural pesticide for the appropriate pest and to use it correctly according to the data sheet approved by specialists in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Despite many challenges associated with the misuse of pesticides or their excessive use, or the selection of inappropriate pesticides, pesticides remain to this day the basic method in pest control, despite their negative effects on human and animal health and the environment.
From here, the importance of managing chemical agricultural pesticides and other types of biological and organic pesticides emerges, given the significant role of this management in ensuring food security, human and animal safety, environmental conservation, and reducing the accumulation of pollutants in soil and groundwater. This importance increases in light of the economic and environmental challenges facing nations including Jordan, regionally and globally.
For more than twenty years now, the world has been moving towards reducing the use of chemical pesticides and increasing reliance on safer alternatives. Jordan has adopted Integrated Crop Management (ICM) programs for years, which consider Integrated Pest Management (IPM) a main component of this management, aiming to reach a more sustainable and efficient agricultural system. In Jordan, to ensure the safe and effective use of pesticides, efforts have been made to establish a clear legislative and regulatory framework through the Agriculture Law No. (13) of 2015 and its derivative regulations on pesticide registration, manufacturing, preparation, import, trade, and distribution No. (Z/5) of 2023 and other related regulations and instructions. Pesticides are registered according to national legislation based on international standards and overseen by a national committee comprising relevant governmental and private entities. After registration, pesticide analysis is required before allowing their circulation.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, there are 27 local pesticide production factories in Jordan and 164 importing companies, registering 230 active substances used in 2321 officially registered pesticides. Effective management of chemical agricultural pesticides is one of the key factors in supporting the local direction towards reducing imports and enhancing local production, as improving the efficiency of pesticide use and controlling their distribution reflects on the quality and safety of Jordanian agricultural products, enhancing their competitiveness in local and international markets and reducing the need to import alternative agricultural products. In addition, developing the pesticide industry locally, especially biological and organic pesticides, and applying integrated pest management programs contribute to rationalizing pesticide consumption and reducing the import bill for ready-made pesticides from abroad.
In other words, encouraging the local pesticide industry in Jordan is an important step in achieving food security and reducing dependence on importing pesticides from abroad, ensuring their constant availability to farmers, thereby reducing costs, which positively reflects on the prices of agricultural products, helps create job opportunities, and opens new fields for employment. It also shows the added value in supporting the local economy and opens prospects for local researchers to develop environmentally friendly pesticides that adapt to local climatic conditions, achieving environmental sustainability.
With the presence of this number of local factories, the opportunities for developing this sector are clearly visible, supporting partnerships between the public and private sectors and utilizing Jordanian expertise in chemistry, agriculture, and chemical engineering, with a focus on producing bio-pesticides from natural Jordanian sources that align with sustainable agriculture trends and encouraging local innovation through agricultural business incubators at the National Center for Agricultural Research and agricultural and agricultural technology colleges at Jordanian universities and funding entrepreneurial projects which helps in developing a system of production, safety, effectiveness, and quality of local products.
In summary
Achieving national food security begins in the field, and chemical agricultural pesticides, despite their challenges, are a fundamental element in this sector. Supporting the local industry and developing Jordanian biological pesticides enhances support for the national agricultural decision, achieves Jordan's vision in sustainable agriculture, contributes to reducing the import of these materials while preserving human, animal, and environmental health, and accomplishes the vision of economic modernization.
