Jordan date exports at JD50m

Jordan's date exports were over JD50 million this year, about half of the total production in a sector investment of over half a billion dinars, with about 20 percent of palm trees in the Jordan Valley. "The dates sector is an economic development model through date-based industries, and a milestone in the growth and development of agriculture in the Kingdom," Agriculture Minister Khaled Hanifat said during a ceremony inaugurating Jordan Date Harvest Day at the Agricultural Engineers Association Station in the Jordan Valley Al-Karamah region. The ministry will provide full support and protect date farmers as an added value to increase the sector's contribution to the national economy, he pledged, noting that the sector provides 5,000-8,000 job opportunities, 40 percent for women. The area planted with palm trees increased to more than 45,000 dunums, production up to more than 35,000 tons, exports exceeded 17,000 tons, and consumption doubled, according to Jordan Dates Association chairman Anwar Haddad. Fo r his part, Jordan Valley Authority Secretary General Hisham Al-Haisa, said the authority allocated an extra budget for palm farmers during the harvest peak, adding "today, we reap the season's harvest in a real partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Jordan Dates Association." Source: Jordan News Agency