Purchasing fertilisers and pesticides in the Jordan Valley has ceased to be a routine transaction. It has become a complex equation linking production costs, use efficiency, safety requirements, and regulatory oversight.
اضافة اعلان
In a region whose extensive agriculture depends on regular fertilisation and spraying, farmers face the challenge of balancing seasonal cost reductions against crop quality. That tension places a heavy responsibility on regulatory and extension bodies to protect the production process from harmful practices and adulterated materials that could, over time, degrade soil fertility.
Farmers say the losses caused by using an inappropriate or unverified input far outweigh the purchase price of the product itself. They manifest in falling yields, deteriorating crop quality, soil exhaustion, and long-term damage to fertility. Agricultural inputs, they note, form an essential part of seasonal costs precisely because they are directly tied to crop safety and productivity.
"In the field, a farmer faces a market where fertiliser types and formulations are numerous and prices vary by product, composition, and origin," said farmer Ali Al-Zaynat. "That variety makes the purchasing decision more sensitive, especially for a farmer trying to cut seasonal costs without affecting output."
Al-Zaynat added that product labelling must be clear, farmers must know what they are buying, materials must come from reliable sources, and a technical body must be accessible for consultation when needed. He said sustained inspection of retail outlets also helps create a more orderly environment for shop owners themselves, by setting clear trading rules and ensuring that dealings in agricultural materials rest on approved standards.
Farmer Ayman Abu Zeina said the pull toward unverified fertilisers is driven by economic pressure rather than preference. "We do not buy unknown fertiliser out of choice - we can no longer afford the steep costs, especially when preparing for the season alongside all the other expenses: seeds, plastic, labour, water, and electricity. Altogether, it is a bill that breaks your back," he said. "A farmer today is surrounded by debt. When someone offers you a package that looks excellent at half the original price, you cling to the hope that it will do the job and save the season, especially since the prices of guaranteed fertilisers have risen in a way that makes no sense."
Abu Zeina added that some traders exploit farmers by offering fertilisers on deferred payment terms. He said that, without rapid field testing and given that many farmers cannot read the detailed chemical composition on a product label, they fall into a trap.
"The real bitterness does not come at the point of purchase - it comes two or three weeks later, when you suddenly see the leaves yellowing, the roots burned, or the soil salinised and hardened," said farmer Khaled Al-Riahineh. "Then the disaster strikes. You have already paid for the adulterated fertiliser and you are forced to pay again to buy treatments for the damage." He said the loss in such cases is not limited to the cost of a bag of fertiliser but extends to the entire crop and season - a loss that cannot be recovered, particularly once planting windows have passed.
Farmers are calling for genuine oversight that prevents these materials from entering the market, alongside price controls on certified fertilisers, so that farmers can access quality inputs at fair prices and are not forced to risk their season and their families' livelihoods.
Engineer Abdel Rahman Al-Ghazawi, head of the Jordanian Citrus Association, said that proper fertiliser use contributes to improved productivity and the preservation of long-term soil fertility. He added that the process requires continuous monitoring, particularly as farmers' needs change from season to season and the inputs required differ by crop and growth stage.
Al-Ghazawi called on agriculture directorates to use extension and inspection work to give farmers clearer information before they make purchasing and application decisions. He stressed that compliance by agricultural supply shop owners with regulations remains an essential element of market discipline.
Dr Mohammad Al-Naim, director of agriculture for the Northern Ghor District, said the directorate conducts intensive field inspection campaigns at shops selling agricultural materials and fertilisers to verify compliance with the regulations governing their trade. The campaigns reinforce the need to purchase from licensed and reliable sources, he said, and warn against buying materials of unknown origin or those promoted at implausibly low prices, as such products cause serious harm to crops.
Al-Naim said the Ministry of Agriculture is studying and seeking to regulate agricultural input costs - including fertilisers, pesticides, and seeds - with the aim of addressing unjustified price increases and examining prices in countries of origin and regional markets to achieve greater cost transparency. He urged farmers to confirm that fertiliser packaging carries a clear product label showing the type of fertiliser, its chemical composition, production and expiry dates, and safe-use instructions.
Al-Naim stressed the importance of selecting fertilisers according to crop type and growth stage, adhering to recommended quantities rather than over-applying, and storing fertilisers in dry, safe locations away from humidity and direct sunlight. He urged farmers to consult specialist engineers before applying fertilisers in order to obtain appropriate technical recommendations.
He noted that oversight of production inputs cannot be separated from an understanding of what farmers need, the nature of their crops and growing seasons, and the climatic conditions of the region. He said the directorate continuously carries out field inspection tours alongside extension and monitoring services covering the plant, livestock, and forestry sectors, as well as field visits by technical teams to collect data on the agricultural sector - information that helps identify farmers' needs and develop technical and extension services.
The Department of Statistics notes that the prices of agricultural production inputs - including organic and chemical fertilisers, pesticides, seeds, and seedlings - are among the data it monitors to measure agricultural prices and production costs. The department also notes that production and marketing input costs affect the returns that farmers receive.
According to official data from the relevant authorities, total utilised agricultural area in the Jordan Valley is estimated at approximately 355,000 dunums, comprising around 226,000 dunums of vegetables, 100,000 dunums of fruit trees, and approximately 28,000 dunums of field crops such as wheat, barley, and fodder.
This article was originally written in Arabic for Al Ghad.
