AMMAN - The Ministry of Agriculture is finalising a new strategy for regulating and encouraging organic agriculture across the Kingdom. “The concept was first introduced in a pilot project for producing organic olives in 2004, involving nine farmers in Jerash,” head of the organic agriculture unit at the ministry, Diana Masaadeh, told The Jordan Times. The JD300,000 project was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and implemented by the Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (NICCOD) in conjunction with the Agriculture Ministry. “The project was completed last April and the ministry will broaden the focus to include various crops, fruit, vegetables and citrus trees as well as animal farms,” Maasadeh said. She added that the project will cover various regions of the Kingdom, including the Ghor and Jordan Valley areas. To be labelled as an organic farm, owners must make sure that every element in their farms is organic, including seeds, soil, trees and the surrounding atmosphere, Maasadeh underlined. She stressed that the process of purifying a farm from any chemical residues takes two years, while fruit isn’t considered organic until the third year. Maasadeh said the ministry seeks to encourage farmers to follow environment-friendly agricultural methods, adding that organic fruits are healthy and free from any kind of chemicals. Most crops are planted with chemical fertilisers and pesticides, making organic crops rarer and more expensive. NICCOD Amman Director Tomoko Otsuka told The Jordan Tines that Japan imported 3 tonnes of organic olive oil last year, adding that other countries also plan to import the product. Meanwhile, Maasadeh said spreading organic agriculture in the Kingdom will pave way for the export of organic products to the US and European countries.
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from Jordan
said:Let me disagree Qwaider. Orgabic farming is a real process taht includes producers, marketing and distribution systems as well as consumers. Of course it is based on minimizing pesticides and chemicals but it is a good practise. In case some decent regulations are introduced like tex exemptions such products can be sold at the same market price as conventional products.
In Jordan there is an abundnace of food but the complex chain of producrers and distributors makes the prices high as well as exporting the best products to Iraq and the Gulf. Organic Farming is for real and it has been proven.
from Italy
said:I also disagree with Qwaider. I work in organic agriculture since long time and I see it even as a great chance for producers to sell their product at a better price on local or international market. Let's take the great Jordanian olive oil: in many cases, due to low or non existing pest attacks to olive trees(that because of this are not treated with pesticides) and no use chemical inputs (such as chemical fertilizers), it can easly be certified and sold as organic. Won't this be a good chance for Jordanian olive oil producers?
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Organic produce and farming is one of the greatest hoaxes in history.
I am all for calling it "limited" farming. In attempts to produce products with limited amounts of chemicals.
It's also more expensive, yields much less, susceptible to pests and costs more for the end consumer (in Jordan, those are already suffering)
So how about we first feed people's hunger, then think of getting the farms to the so called organic level