Khaberni - A member of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, founder and general manager of Agricultural Caravans Company, Engineer Ahmed Al-Bas, confirmed that the specialized fertilizer industry in Jordan is one of the important industrial sectors, due to its role in supporting agriculture and enhancing food security, in addition to its contribution to the national economy.
Al-Bas said, during a specialized lecture organized by the Jordanian Association for Scientific Research, Entrepreneurship and Innovation last night regarding the specialized fertilizer industry in Jordan, that fertilizers are a fundamental element in modern agriculture, as they provide plants with main nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur, in addition to micronutrients, reflecting on improving productivity and crop quality.
He explained that the fertilizer industry is divided into conventional fertilizers and specialized ones, where conventional fertilizers are used in large-scale agriculture and constitute about 90 percent of global production, while specialized fertilizers are used in modern and intensive agricultural systems, especially irrigated agriculture, and constitute about 10 percent of global production.
He mentioned that the fertilizer industry sector in Jordan comprises about 50 industrial facilities and provides more than 3,000 direct job opportunities, pointing out that the total production value of the sector is estimated at about one billion dollars, while the added value rate is about 69 percent of the total production, reflecting the depth of local manufacturing in this sector.
He clarified that the specialized fertilizer industry contributes to improving the efficiency of fertilizer and water use, and improving the management of agricultural inputs, in line with the move towards sustainable agriculture and the use of modern technologies in agricultural production.
Al-Bas discussed the most significant challenges facing the sector, foremost of which are the high production costs, high raw material prices, in addition to the limited size of the local market, which necessitates working on developing products and enhancing their competitiveness.
He emphasized the importance of supporting specialized chemical industries and providing an investment-friendly environment to foster their growth, due to its impact in enhancing the added value of the national industry and supporting the related productive sectors.
Al-Bas concluded by asserting that the specialized fertilizer industry represents a real opportunity to enhance the integration between the industrial and agricultural sectors and support sustainable economic development in the kingdom.
The lecture, which was moderated by the Association's president Dr. Reda Al-Khawaldeh, included numerous questions and interventions that emphasized the importance and vitality of this sector and the necessity to support and elevate it.
