Khaberni - Khalil Amro, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture for Marketing, said that the Cabinet's decision to approve the reasons for a draft amended system for the wholesale markets of vegetables and fruits for the year 2026, aims to enhance the regulatory role of the Ministries of Local Administration and Agriculture, and the Greater Amman Municipality on wholesale markets, and control random selling outside central markets.
Amro referred to the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that there are only three central markets in Jordan: Central Amman, Irbid, and Zarqa, in addition to a temporary transitional market in the area of Deir Alla (Al-Arda Market). He pointed out that they have worked with the Amman Municipality on amending the system issued in 2016 concerning the regulatory part on the quality of agricultural products from vegetables and fruits entering these markets. This included positive additions as the decision kept up with changes in marketing methods and allowed for sales outside the market walls, through the establishment of electronic platforms to market these products in line with modern advancements and eliminating some deformities within those markets.
In relation to the compelling reasons for amending the central market system in the municipalities, Amro clarified that a fundamental part of it is linked to the quantities that reach the markets, which are only 50-70 percent of the total production. This means that large quantities are sold randomly and illegally outside the central markets, and are not subject to the real dynamics of supply and demand and pricing, unlike those sold on roads or in malls, with the exception of exports. Thus, addressing these issues was necessary.
He also mentioned addressing problems related to establishing central markets through collaboration between municipalities, given the high cost of their infrastructure, along with providing a legal mechanism for distributing revenues amongst the municipalities.
He stated, the role of the Ministry of Agriculture stems from activating agricultural offices belonging to the ministry within the central markets, whose task is to monitor agricultural products and their quality and enforce the standards and specifications associated with these products.
Regarding the compelling reasons for residing outside the municipal boundaries, Amro indicated that the infrastructure of these markets includes supporting services like refrigeration, storage, and grading and packing centers. The presence of restrictions for residing within the municipal boundaries due to high costs and high land prices restrict the establishment of central markets and the establishment of supporting projects to enhance the quality of Jordanian products, ensuring they reach the Jordanian consumer at fair prices and meeting the specifications of the importing countries.
He explained that most production areas, such as the southern and eastern regions like Mafraq, which are major production areas, do not have central markets. Establishing markets in the provinces that are production areas contributes to reducing transportation costs and developing the storage, refrigeration, and sorting systems for these products and re-transporting them to local and external markets.
It is worth mentioning that the Cabinet, in its session held yesterday, Sunday, chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, approved the compelling reasons for the draft amended system for the wholesale markets of vegetables and fruits for the year 2026.
