Central Jordan Valley, Sept. 30 (Petra)-- Agriculture Minister Saeb Khreisat Wednesday said Jordan's date sector is an "important" agricultural and economic pillar with "promising" opportunities for expansion and export.

Speaking at a Jordan Dates Association (JODA) event marking Jordanian Dates Harvest Day, Khreisat said supporting farmers and developing the agricultural sector are priorities for the ministry, including improving product quality, marketing, processing and access to new markets.

JODA's President Anwar Haddad said the fifth annual harvest day celebrates a sector that "has put Jordan on the global date production and export map." He said palm plantations cover more than 50,000 dunums and hold over 800,000 palms.

Annual production exceeds 37,000 tons, led by the Medjool and Barhi varieties. Exports exceed JD60 million and reach more than 50 markets and the sector has created about 12,000 jobs, he pointed out.

Haddad said the JODA aims to improve water-use efficiency, adopt technology and artificial intelligence, expand food processing and open new markets.

In turn, Former Prime Minister Adnan Badran said palm cultivation development requires "integrated" partnership among research bodies, universities, the ministry, the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), farmers, the JODA and the Agricultural Engineers Association.

Opio Paul, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Jordan, said the FAO will continue supporting the sector through technical assistance and capacity building.

He said the FAO will also back national efforts against the red palm weevil and support value chain development under the "One Country One Priority Product" initiative.

As for its future vision, JVA's Assistant Secretary General for the Northern and Southern Jordan Valley Faisal Fqeer said the authority will continue supporting farmers and improving water and irrigation management.

Mohammad Abu Ayyash, speaking for palm farmers, cited weak infrastructure, high production costs, marketing difficulties and foreign competition.

He called for registering Jordanian dates as a "distinctive" geographical indication and strengthening pest control programs, which would sustain the sector, raise its "competitiveness and open broader" opportunities in global markets.

//Petra// NQ