Gov’t Communication Forum highlights agriculture landscape, challenges in light of climate change

Agriculture Minister Khalid Hneifat confirmed the availability of 600,000 local and imported sheep in the market in preparation for Eid al-Adha, including 250,000 local and 350,000 imported sheep, in addition to 15,000 calves and 800 camels. Hneifat gave his remarks during the Government Communication Forum on Tuesday, which was held to discuss the agricultural sector landscape and its challenges in light of climate change. During the forum, attended by Minister of Government Communications and Government Spokesperson Muhannad Mubaidin, Hneifat said that the prices of sacrificial livestock depend on the weight and quantities offered, expecting the average price of domestic livestock to be between JD230 and LD280 per head and imported livestock between JD180 and JD220. Hneifat emphasized that Jordan has overcome global crises with minimal losses, achieving self-sufficiency, despite its scarcity of resources and its ongoing suffering from the consequences of climate change. He said that the ministry allowed importing lemons in mid-April to fill a gap estimated at 7,000 tons for the months of June, July, and August, noting that there is a shortage in lemon production as the amount of production is about 60 tons per day while the local market needs 200 tons. He confirmed that lemon prices will decrease by the beginning of next week as a result of the import of about 750 tons of African lemons, noting that the ministry granted 170 licenses to import lemons from South Africa and Turkey and that any delay in the arrival of consignments is due to the non-use of licenses by traders. Source: Jordan News Agency