Agricultural value chains are defined as all the successive activities and processes that an agricultural product goes through from the stage of providing production inputs until it reaches the final consumer, where value is added at each stage of the chain including agricultural inputs, production, harvesting, post-harvest treatments, manufacturing, transportation, marketing, and local and international distribution. Amid accelerating climate changes and increasing geopolitical challenges, these chains have become a fundamental component for ensuring food security and achieving sustainability, especially in Jordan. The importance of these chains is not limited to the economic aspect, but currently represents a developmental framework that connects farmers with the private sector and relevant government institutions within an integrated system aimed at increasing efficiency, reducing waste, and increasing the income of producers (farmers).
In Jordan, the agricultural sector faces challenges that pressure the sector due to climate change such as rising temperatures, fluctuations in rainfall rates, recurring droughts, the spread of various agricultural pests, and the degradation of natural resources, most importantly soil. All these factors have led to a decline in productivity and an increase in production costs, while on the other hand increasing the volume of post-harvest loss and affecting market stability.
The challenges to the agricultural sector do not stop at climate changes but extend to geopolitical conditions, which have a direct impact on the value chains in terms of disruption of global supply chains, rising shipping and energy costs, and imposing trade restrictions. All this affects the volatility of food prices and the rise in production costs locally and globally.
Here, technology is considered the main leverage to enhance resilience in the face of challenges as a tool for re-shaping agricultural value chains and making them more efficient and sustainable. In the production stage, modern climate-friendly technologies and advanced irrigation systems contribute to rationalizing water consumption and increasing productivity, while remote sensing technologies and the Internet of Things allow for precise monitoring of crops and improved management of natural resources. As for the post-harvest stage, using cooling and storage chains is an utmost necessity which reduces losses and should have been implemented by investing government institutions to support the sector rather than competing with farmers in traditional products.
In the manufacturing side, modern technologies and the use of renewable energy help reduce costs in various stages. At the level of marketing, digital platforms and product tracking technologies assist in opening new horizons for products to reach markets and increase consumer confidence, thus enhancing the competitiveness of the Jordanian product locally and for export.
Jordan has recently seen a significant shift towards supporting small farmers and developing agricultural manufacturing projects and encouraging entrepreneurship
and agricultural innovation although these efforts are still modest especially in financing, capacity building, and the broader use of modern technologies.
Despite the great potential, the program for developing value chains faces challenges especially in the use of modern technologies in terms of high costs, weak digital infrastructure, limited awareness and training for farmers, difficulty in accessing financing, and most importantly the lack of integration between scientific research and practical application which is the main obstacle to adopting innovative solutions on a broad scale. Therefore, there is a need to adopt an integrated approach based on supporting government policies, stimulating investment, and enhancing partnerships between the public and private sectors with the necessity of empowering farmers, especially small ones, and developing agricultural cooperatives realistically and not selectively as they are the main element in strong value chains, along with the necessity to adopt modern technology and link it to scientific research to bring about a qualitative leap in agriculture.
In conclusion
In a world described by climate fluctuations and geopolitical turmoil, it is most prudent to focus on building resilient agricultural value chains, capable of adaptation, supported by technology to enhance food security, improve farmers' income, and increase the competitiveness of Jordanian agricultural products. And this transformation remains contingent on the ability of different parties involved in the agricultural sector to work within an integrated and supportive system to achieve the desired goal.
