Shobak, Sept 5 (Petra) -- In Shobak, a region in southern Jordan known for its apples with profuse fruiting this season and exceptional crop quality, farmers are keen to preserve the native crop for decades and enhance its competitiveness in the markets.

"This year's apple crop is good in both quantity and quality," said Basem Al-Tawrah, Director of Agriculture in Shobak.

The agricultural and climatic conditions during the season contributed to producing a crop with excellent qualities, promising a better marketing season for farmers, he told Petra in an in an interview.

He said apples are one of the key crops in Shobak, given their quality and taste, and because they are a source of income for farmers and an agricultural heritage that has been tied to the region for many years.

Apple cultivation has faced many challenges in recent years, mainly climate change and water scarcity, prompting cultivated areas to shrink from about 20,000 dunams two decades ago to about 3,000 dunams at present, Al-Tawrah said.

He urged farmers to cultivate varieties more resilient to climate change, along with reducing operational costs to raise production efficiency and encourage farmers in this type of farming.

The agriculture chief also called for closer direct communication with the Ministry of Agriculture to curb apple imports to the local market and ensure local produce is not affected during the harvest season.

Supporting farmers and addressing the challenges they face will help preserve and sustain apple cultivation in Shobak, as it is considered part of the region's national agricultural heritage, he said.

"This year's apple season is excellent in terms of both abundance and quality of the harvest," said Issa Al-Tarawneh, a farmer. He said Shobak apples are of a high quality and up to international standards.

Amer Al-Hashlamoun, an investor in the sector, said "this year's apple crop was good in terms of quantity and quality," stressing that water is key to the continuation of farming and the preservation of trees and yield.

Farmers are focusing this season on marketing their produce at fair prices amid growing calls for regulating imports during the season, addressing water challenges, encouraging the cultivation of varieties suitable for climate change, and reducing production costs.

These will ensure a sustainable apple crop in Shobak and maintain cultivated areas.

//Petra//SS

05/09/2026 17:29:09