Amman, July 1 (Petra) -- The agricultural sector reached a record milestone in the first quarter of 2026, contributing 6.1 percent to the Kingdom's gross domestic product (GDP), Agriculture Minister Saeb Khraisat said on Wednesday.
Commenting on figures released by the Department of Statistics, Khraisat told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the agricultural sector recorded the highest growth rate among all economic activities, expanding by 6.8 percent at constant prices compared with the first quarter of 2025, underscoring its growing role in supporting the national economy.
He noted that the national economy grew by 2.9 percent during the first quarter of 2026, up from 2.7 percent in the corresponding period last year, while agriculture made one of the strongest contributions to that growth.
Khraisat said the sector accounted for 0.40 percentage points of the overall 2.9 percent GDP growth, ranking second only to manufacturing in its contribution to economic expansion and reflecting agriculture's increasing importance as a driver of national growth.
He attributed the sector's performance to the implementation of the Economic Modernization Vision and the 2026-2029 Executive Program, as well as government policies carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the private sector and farmers to boost productivity, improve the efficient use of natural resources, and expand export markets for Jordanian agricultural products.
He said the ministry's measures include implementing the agricultural calendar, providing subsidized agricultural financing, encouraging the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, supporting agro-industries that rely on local inputs, and promoting agricultural exports through air and sea freight.
Khraisat said the ministry will continue implementing its strategic plans to strengthen national food security and enhance the competitiveness of Jordanian agricultural products in local and international markets, contributing to higher farmers' incomes, creating employment opportunities, and supporting sustainable economic development.
He added that the sector's performance reinforces agriculture's position as one of the Kingdom's key engines of economic growth, stressing that investment in agriculture is an investment in food security as well as economic and social development. He also praised Jordanian farmers for their role in achieving these results.
//Petra// AJ
