Latest news with #NawashYazjeen
Jordan Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
New lending model offers lifeline to Jordan Valley's small-scale farmers
By Maria Weldali - May 22,2025 - Last updated at May 22,2025 AMMAN — Grappling with mounting economic pressures and consecutive seasons of financial loss, small-scale farmers in the Jordan Valley are struggling to sustain their agricultural livelihoods. Amid these challenges, a new cooperative lending model is offering renewed hope for revitalising the sector, according to stakeholders. The initiative was launched under a tripartite memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and partner institutions as part of the Netherlands' second Agricultural Support Project in Jordan. The system was designed to provide low-interest loans to smallholder farmers, enabling them to invest in farm development and adopt sustainable agricultural technologies, according to a ministry statement. Speaking to The Jordan Times, President of the Jordan Valley Farmers Union Adnan Khaddam described the initiative as 'a significant step towards promoting sustainable agriculture and strengthening food security in the country'. Khaddam stressed that the introduction of a cooperative lending system offers more than just financial relief; it instils a renewed sense of hope among farmers. He emphasised that developing a credit framework tailored to smallholder farmers is key to transforming the country's agricultural landscape by increasing access to financing and encouraging investment in modern, sustainable practices. Farmer Nawash Yazjeen noted that 'by leveraging the collective strength of agricultural cooperatives, the system creates a revolving fund that can be reinvested into members' farming activities'. He added that this approach could help break the cycle of financial exclusion that has long constrained small-scale farmers. Yazjeen also underscored the importance of ensuring the lending model is aligned with the sector's actual needs, cautioning that the initiative's success hinges on its ability to address on-the-ground realities. Stakeholders across the sector view the Sustainable Agriculture Cooperative (SACO) model as a critical tool for enhancing the resilience and economic independence of small farmers. As Jordan Valley farmers continue to navigate growing economic and environmental challenges, SACO presents a structured, community-driven pathway, one that may help them not only survive but thrive in an increasingly competitive agricultural environment.
Zawya
14-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Farmers work through Ramadan's demands amid rising costs, labour shortages
AMMAN: As Ramadan enters its second half, Jordan's agricultural sector is under growing strain to meet surging consumer demand. Farmers throughout the Jordan Valley and other key agricultural regions are navigating long fasting hours, fluctuating market prices, rising production costs, and persistent labour shortages. 'Over the past two weeks, demand for staple crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and dates has spiked, reflecting the dietary shifts typical during the holy month,' said Nawash Yazjeen, a Jordanian farmer, in a phone interview with The Jordan Times. Despite the uptick in sales, many farmers are grappling with logistical and economic challenges that hinder their ability to fully capitalise on the seasonal demand. Mohammad Abadi, a greenhouse farmer, pointed out that small-scale farmers face stiff competition from larger agricultural operations and imported goods. 'The added pressure of fasting makes the physical demands of farming even more challenging,' he noted. 'Farmers push through exhaustion and dehydration just to keep up with the work.' Fatima Zuhair, a Jordanian consumer, explained that during Ramadan, she tends to buy larger quantities of fruits and vegetables to accommodate the many family gatherings she hosts. 'Prices are higher in some places, and there's a clear increase in demand during Ramadan,' she said. As the second half of Ramadan unfolds, Jordan's farmers remain determined to weather the challenges, striking a delicate balance between resilience and the economic realities of a shifting agricultural landscape. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan Times
13-03-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Farmers work through Ramadan's demands amid rising costs, labour shortages
As Ramadan enters its second half, Jordan's agricultural sector is under growing strain to meet surging consumer demand (JT file) AMMAN — As Ramadan enters its second half, Jordan's agricultural sector is under growing strain to meet surging consumer demand. Farmers throughout the Jordan Valley and other key agricultural regions are navigating long fasting hours, fluctuating market prices, rising production costs, and persistent labour shortages. 'Over the past two weeks, demand for staple crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and dates has spiked, reflecting the dietary shifts typical during the holy month,' said Nawash Yazjeen, a Jordanian farmer, in a phone interview with The Jordan Times. Despite the uptick in sales, many farmers are grappling with logistical and economic challenges that hinder their ability to fully capitalise on the seasonal demand. Mohammad Abadi, a greenhouse farmer, pointed out that small-scale farmers face stiff competition from larger agricultural operations and imported goods. 'The added pressure of fasting makes the physical demands of farming even more challenging,' he noted. 'Farmers push through exhaustion and dehydration just to keep up with the work.' Fatima Zuhair, a Jordanian consumer, explained that during Ramadan, she tends to buy larger quantities of fruits and vegetables to accommodate the many family gatherings she hosts. 'Prices are higher in some places, and there's a clear increase in demand during Ramadan,' she said. As the second half of Ramadan unfolds, Jordan's farmers remain determined to weather the challenges, striking a delicate balance between resilience and the economic realities of a shifting agricultural landscape.
