Amman, July 16 (Petra) --Ministry of Agriculture has issued 3,100 origin (production) certificates to wheat and barley farmers to facilitate delivery of their crops to storage facilities in the northern and central regions and collection centers operated by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply in southern Jordan.

In a statement Thursday, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and head of the Central Committee for Local Grain Procurement, Mohammad Hiyari, said the certificates allow farmers to supply their production to grain silos and designated collection centers, including Al-Rabba and Al-Msheirfeh centers in Karak Governorate.

Hiyari said the operations to collect and supply grain are managed by the Jordan Silos and Supply General Company and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply.

He praised the ministry's efforts in establishing the Al-Msheirfeh center in Karak to receive grain shipments from farmers and contracting a local transporter to transport quantities collected from southern governorates to silos in Amman.

He urged farmers in southern governorates to deliver their wheat and barley crops to the Al-Msheirfeh center to ease pressure on the Al-Rabba center and speed up receiving procedures.

Hiyari announced the quantities of wheat and barley received so far have exceeded 100,000 tonnes, adding that the government continues to support field crops by purchasing locally produced wheat and barley at subsidized prices.

On its goals, he said the policy aims to encourage farmers to expand cultivation of strategic crops, strengthen national food security and increase reliance on local production.

//Petra// NQ