Amman, March 27 (Petra) -- A four-party agreement was inked by the Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday, aiming to bolster the citrus sector in the Jordan Valley.

The deal involves the Jordan Cooperative Corporation, Advance Consulting Company, and the Jordan Valley Citrus Agricultural Cooperative Society, and will fund the acquisition of advanced machinery for citrus grading, sorting, and waxing.

During the signing ceremony, Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Hneifat, stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in supporting agricultural sectors and enhancing the competitiveness of local produce.

He lauded Advance Consulting's support, funded by the Netherlands, which aligns with the ministry's strategy to aid the citrus industry.

This includes the establishment of a 10,000-ton capacity cooling, packaging, and grading center, designed to accommodate a range of agricultural crops, not just citrus.

Abdul Fattah Shalabi, Director General of the Jordan Cooperative Corporation, explained that the society's establishment is geared towards strengthening agricultural cooperative efforts and providing farmers with modern production tools.

This initiative fits within the framework of cooperative development outlined in the National Sustainable Agriculture Plan.

Lamia Al-Dabbas, Regional Director of Advance Consulting, highlighted the crucial role of the waxing line in supporting the citrus sector, ensuring fair pricing, improving product quality, and empowering farmers to market their produce more effectively.

Ahmed Ghazawi, President of the Jordan Valley Agricultural Cooperative Society, expressed gratitude for the Ministry of Agriculture's ongoing support for the citrus sector.

He emphasized that the grant from Advance Consulting marks a significant step towards completing the packaging, grading, and waxing center, which will enhance farmers' income, improve local product quality, and stabilize the citrus market.

//Petra// AA



27/03/2025 11:46:06