As the first signs of the citrus season emerge, some farmers are beginning to harvest part of their crop early, despite repeated official warnings against rushing unripe fruit to market, which could damage the reputation of local produce and undermine its competitiveness.
اضافة اعلان
Caught between farmers’ desire for quick returns to cover rising costs and agricultural authorities’ insistence that fruit reach markets at full maturity and quality, the citrus season in the Northern Jordan Valley is racing against time amid a delicate economic and technical balance.
Early harvesting: Risk management or financial gamble?
Some farmers believe that waiting ensures better quality and more stable prices, while others see early harvesting as an opportunity to secure substantial profits amid complex market conditions and pressing cash-flow needs.
Farmer Ali Abu Zeina explains that harvesting decisions are partly driven by economic considerations. Farmers do not look only at the fruit on the tree; they also calculate how much they have spent since the beginning of the season, what they can earn in the market, and whether waiting longer will actually generate a higher return.
He notes that these calculations become more complicated as production costs rise. Farmers must choose between waiting for the fruit to fully mature while shouldering additional costs and risks, or beginning the harvest when they believe the market can absorb the crop at a profitable price.
Some farmers believe harvesting at this stage can deliver the desired profits, particularly when demand for certain varieties is strong or when they can sell their produce directly at better prices than those likely to prevail at the height of the season.
According to farmer Khaled Al-Bashtawi, however, this option places responsibility on farmers to preserve product standards. Quick profits from an early sale may not represent a genuine gain if they later come at the expense of quality or consumer confidence.
He stresses that farmers cannot ignore market movements or the prices their produce commands at different stages of the season. Citrus is perishable, and delaying its marketing for extended periods also comes at a cost.
He explains that early-season demand can provide an opportunity to market part of the crop and generate income rather than waiting for prices to fall as supply increases. However, harvesting early does not necessarily mean that every variety or every fruit is ready for market. It remains essential to distinguish fruit that has met maturity indicators from fruit that needs more time.
“This is where agricultural guidance becomes important, as it can help farmers determine the appropriate harvesting time for each variety rather than applying a single schedule to all trees and fruit,” Al-Bashtawi says.
He adds that citrus is not merely a seasonal agricultural product, but an economic lifeline and a main source of livelihood for thousands of families in the region.
Farmer Mohammad Khader says citrus growers operate within a complex set of competing considerations: producing high-quality fruit while covering costs and earning a return from a growing season that has lasted for months.
He argues that discussions about early harvesting must take farmers’ overall circumstances into account, rather than focusing solely on fruit maturity.
Farmers pay for irrigation, agricultural maintenance and labor while facing weather fluctuations, pest risks and price uncertainty. Naturally, they seek the best timing to turn their harvest into income.
Khader emphasizes that product quality cannot be compromised. Sending fruit that does not meet the required standards to market could harm farmers themselves in the long run, as well as damage the image of local produce.
Quality is non-negotiable
While agricultural authorities warn against rushing fruit to market before it reaches the appropriate stage of maturity, officials stress that maintaining fruit standards is not a minor detail but a fundamental requirement for supporting national produce.
These calls come as citrus remains one of the Northern Jordan Valley’s leading agricultural crops, with extensive areas dedicated to its cultivation. Published data indicate that agricultural land in the Northern Jordan Valley District covers approximately 118,000 dunums, of which around 66,000 dunums are planted with citrus. These figures reflect the sector’s importance to the regional economy and farmers’ livelihoods.
Northern Jordan Valley Agriculture Director Engineer Mohammad Al-Naim stresses the need for farmers to follow technical recommendations and sound agricultural practices that preserve production quality and sustainability.
He says the directorate continues to provide agricultural guidance and raise awareness about crop management and irrigation practices, particularly amid the heat waves and heat stress experienced in the region.
He explains that marketing difficulties, falling citrus prices or declining quality affect not only farmers but also workers, traders, transport operators, markets and all other parties involved in the agricultural supply chain.
“We are counting on farmers’ awareness of the need to preserve production quality, which is particularly important in a market where local and imported products compete,” he says.
The General Union of Jordanian Farmers has also urged growers to follow proper harvesting practices and ensure that fruit is mature and free from scratches to secure fair prices and avoid marketing bottlenecks.
The union emphasizes that agricultural profit is not measured solely by how quickly a crop is sold, but by farmers’ ability to produce high-quality fruit, market it at a fair price and maintain consumer confidence in local produce.
It also highlights the importance of strengthening field-based agricultural guidance so farmers can make harvesting decisions based on genuine indicators of maturity. This approach aims to secure fair returns for farmers today while protecting the reputation and long-term sustainability of local produce.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reportng: Ola Abdel Latif
