Amman, Dec. 23 (Petra) – The Senate’s Agriculture and Water Committee, chaired by Akef Zu’bi, on Tuesday discussed the current state of Jordan’s date palm sector with Chairpersons of Jordan Dates Association (JODA) Anwar Haddad.

According to a committee statement, Zu’bi said the discussions aimed to review the sector’s conditions, key challenges, and prospects for growth and development, stressing the committee’s "keenness" to enhance cooperation and communication with the association to support sector development, improve competitiveness, and boost export and marketing of Jordanian dates.

In turn, Haddad, in the presence of JODA members, outlined the current situation of the date sector, highlighting available investment opportunities and strong employment rates within local communities.

Haddad noted introduction of modern machinery and technologies has "enhanced the added value of Jordanian dates and improved farm management, positively impacting food security and the national economy by increasing export volumes to global markets." Haddad said the sector is "promising and offers significant potential" for development and expansion due to rising demand for dates, adding that the association’s experience as a business-oriented entity has succeeded in fostering growers' cooperation, which contributed to the sector’s development.

Concluding the meeting, the two sides called for supporting and developing the sector and encouraging investment by signing trade agreements with promising markets to secure preferential access, establishment of an agricultural chamber, and reduction of Royal Jordanian cargo fees on date exports, in line with fresh agricultural products.

//Petra// NQ