Khaberni - The Association of Vegetable and Fruit Exporters and Producers expressed their deep appreciation for the agricultural sector for the decision of the Cabinet, chaired by Dr. Jaafar Hassan, which involves extending the support decision for agricultural exports of fresh vegetables and fruits.
In a statement, the association confirmed that continuing to provide support at a rate of 50% of the cost of air shipping and 25% of the cost of sea shipping is a strategic step at a very critical time, pointing out that this decision serves as a lifeline for Jordanian agricultural exports amid the geopolitical and logistical challenges imposed by the current regional conditions.
The president of the Association of Vegetable and Fruit Exporters and Producers, engineer Mazen Hamarneh, appreciated the positive results achieved by the support program, praising the studies that showed:
- A qualitative leap in agricultural exports, which increased by 38% compared to the year 2024, especially to European markets and non-traditional markets.
- High flexibility in facing challenges, as air shipping succeeded in compensating for the decrease in sea shipping by 42% due to the current conditions.
- Breaking into new markets, through expansion from 12 to 17 international markets, and recovering markets that had been lost since the political events in neighboring countries, which contributed to reducing dependence on traditional markets and protecting local products from fluctuations in demand.
Hamarneh mentioned that contracts have been signed with farmers to market previously agreed varieties, in addition to reopening and operating vegetable workshops that had been closed since the political events in Syria, which led to a significant increase in re-employment of technical labor, with the Jordanian labor force accounting for about 90% of it.
Hamarneh added that this decision aligns fully with the state's directions in supporting the 'Local Financing Solutions to Support the Transformation of the Food and Agricultural System in Jordan' program, and directly contributes to achieving the targets of the economic modernization vision, by enhancing national exports, providing hard currency, and supporting the resilience of the Jordanian farmer.
In conclusion of the statement, Hamarneh thanked the government, represented by the economic team and the Ministry of Agriculture, for their prompt response to the sector's demands, affirming that the exporters and producers will continue to work on improving the quality of the Jordanian product to be the best ambassador for Jordan in international markets, benefiting from these incentives to enhance food security and support national economic growth.
