Agriculture Minister Saeb Khraisat states that food security remains stable despite regional challenges.
Saeb Khraisat, Minister of Agriculture and Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council for Food Security, confirmed that the Kingdom’s food security status is robust and stable according to international indicators, despite current regional unrest and global supply chain disruptions.
اضافة اعلان
A Balanced Economic Model
Minister Khraisat stated that while Jordan faces limited natural resources, it does not rely solely on imports. Instead, it employs a balanced model that integrates domestic production with regulated imports through clear policies aimed at diversifying supply sources and strengthening national output.
Sector Growth and GDP Contribution
The Minister highlighted significant milestones in the agricultural sector:
Growth Rate: The sector led all economic sectors in the fourth quarter of last year with a growth rate of 7%.
GDP Contribution: The agricultural GDP at constant prices reached 2.26 billion JOD last year. Its contribution to the overall GDP rose from 5.1% in 2024 to 5.4% last year.
Self-Sufficiency: Jordan achieved local self-sufficiency in certain products, such as vegetables, accounting for 16% of total agricultural production.
Exports: Agricultural exports grew by 10% last year, reaching 1.681 billion JOD (up from 1.531 billion JOD in 2024).
Strategic Reserves and Supply Chain Resilience
Minister Khraisat assured that strategic stockpiles are at safe and reassuring levels:
Wheat: Sufficient for 10 months.
Barley: Sufficient for 9 months.
Essential Commodities (Rice, Sugar, Oils): Sufficient for at least 3 months.
Meats (Lamb/Poultry): Reserves range between 3 to 6 months, with additional quantities en route.
He emphasized that supply chains remain resilient, with the Port of Aqaba operating at full capacity.
Proactive Government Measures
To mitigate the impact of rising energy and shipping costs due to regional developments, the government implemented several proactive steps:
Tax/Fee Exemptions: Exempting sea freight increases from taxes and fees for six months.
Logistics Flexibility: Allowing container transport via land borders and temporary removal of exclusivity for Aqaba port transfers.
Market Oversight: Strict monitoring to prevent monopolies and ensuring essential goods remain available through support for the Civil and Military Consumer Corporations.
Improved International Indicators
The Minister referenced the 2025 "State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World" (SOFI) report, issued by the FAO, WFP, WHO, UNICEF, and IFAD, which showed:
Undernourishment: Dropped from 17.9% (2021-2023) to 14.3% (2022-2024).
Affordability: The percentage of people unable to afford a healthy diet decreased from 11.5% in 2023 to 10.7% in 2024.
Source: Petra
