Amman - A recent study has stressed the need to develop an integrated system for Jordan's pomegranate sector, based primarily on raising productivity and improving the efficiency of irrigation water use, as well as developing local varieties, agricultural services, marketing and processing. This would boost the crop's economic value and improve farmers' returns, rather than relying on expanding planted areas alone.
اضافة اعلان
The study, prepared by agricultural engineer Mohammad Abdullah Al-Tawalbeh, an expert in agricultural statistics and agricultural economics, shows that the area planted with pomegranates in the Kingdom rose from 7,884.6 dunams in 2017 to 10,809.4 dunams in 2025, a growth rate of 37.1%. The number of trees rose from 375,401 to 528,697, an increase of 40.8%. According to the study, which is based mainly on data from the Department of Statistics, production has not kept pace with this expansion steadily. It fell from 16,767.7 tonnes in 2017 to 9,361.3 tonnes in 2021, before rising to 19,549.9 tonnes in 2024, then slipping to 18,304.8 tonnes in 2025, a drop of 6.4% on the previous year.
The study argues that these indicators call for a shift from assessing the sector by the size of its planted areas and tree numbers, towards indicators more closely tied to economic efficiency. These include productivity per unit of area, the quality of marketable fruit, water-use efficiency, and production and handling costs.
On marketing, the study found that the average farm-gate price of pomegranates was 702.8 fils per kilogram in 2025, compared with 852.1 fils in central markets. It notes that the gap between the two prices does not represent a net profit margin, given the transport, sorting, packaging and handling costs involved.
The study highlights the importance of developing rural and cooperative processing, and making use of sound fruit that is less suitable for fresh marketing to produce juice, pomegranate molasses, vinegar and jam. It also suggests studying opportunities to use the peel and seeds in complementary products, subject to economic feasibility and quality and safety requirements.
The study concludes that agricultural extension services need strengthening, local varieties should be documented, and the quality of seedlings improved. It also calls for wider use of agricultural analysis, balanced fertilisation and integrated pest control, along with testing smart irrigation techniques and scheduling water according to the needs of each farm.
