Author Archives: admin

Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture, the Jordan Dates Association (JODA) held a workshop yesterday, Tuesday, at the Research Center of the Agricultural Engineers Syndicate in Al-Karama/Al-Aghwar to launch the project to evaluate the national plan to combat the red palm weevil, which is being implemented by the association in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and with the support of the United Nations Development Program. The workshop was attended by Engineer Yassin Al-Adwan, Director of Agriculture in the Central Jordan Valley, representing His Excellency the Minister, Engineer Walid Shaheen, Chairman of the National Steering Committee for the Small Grants Program – United Nations Development Program, Engineer Anas Al-Khasawneh, National Coordinator of the Small Grants Program, and Engineer Anwar Haddad, Chairman of the Dates Association. The workshop was also attended by cadres from the Plant Protection Directorate at the Ministry, directors of agriculture in the palm production areas in the Kingdom, and directors of irrigation water in the Jordan Valley Authority. The workshop was also attended by a number of local and international experts in the field of palm pests, in addition to a large number of palm farmers in the Kingdom. A presentation was given on the palm sector in the Kingdom and the plan to combat the red palm weevil. After that, the launch of the project was announced, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of the weevil and its economic impact. It also aims to verify the procedures and tools of the approved control plan and the capabilities of Modifying the plan’s course if necessary, in addition to a set of important secondary objectives, such as building a database on the palm tree sector in the Kingdom, the areas where the pest is concentrated, and the severity of its spread. The Minister’s representative, the President of the Dates Association, and the attendees commended the efforts made by the specialized personnel in the field to manage this file, and also thanked the United Nations Development Program.

Confronting climate change and water scarcity: The Jordan Valley Authority and the Jordan Dates Association (JODA) are making joint efforts to coordinate efforts to ensure sustainable irrigation of palm farms in the Jordan Valley.
In a move that emphasizes shared responsibility and effective partnership between the public and private sectors, the Board of Directors of the Jordan Dates Association (JODA) received the Secretary-General of the Jordan Valley Authority, Engineer Hisham Al-Haisa, at its official headquarters yesterday, Tuesday, for a strategic meeting aimed at discussing the Authority’s plan to secure irrigation water for palm farmers in the Jordan Valley. This comes amid the unprecedented challenges resulting from water scarcity and the effects of climate change that the Kingdom is experiencing during the 2024/2025 rainy season.
Engineer Al-Haisa reassured palm farmers that the Authority is determined to safely overcome this difficult phase and will work to fairly deliver water rights to all farmers. He also emphasized that the Jordan Valley Authority will not tolerate any attacks on water resources in the Jordan Valley. He also emphasized that proper management of this vital issue requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.
This meeting underscores the Jordan Valley Authority’s national responsibility to provide irrigation water to all farmers in the Jordan Valley. Regarding the role played by the Jordan Dates Association (JODA) in protecting and supporting the date palm sector, the association’s president, Engineer Anwar Haddad, and the board of directors emphasized that the association, as the comprehensive sectoral representative of palm cultivation in the Kingdom, places the issue of water resource sustainability at the forefront of its priorities. The association works closely with the Jordan Valley Authority and official bodies to ensure the provision of irrigation water to palm farms in the Kingdom and to create strategic solutions that ensure the sustainability of the date palm sector and its continued progress despite escalating climate challenges.
During an in-depth discussion, Engineer Al-Haisa presented the Jordan Valley Authority’s plans to meet the water needs for irrigating crops during the upcoming critical phase of the 2025 palm season, when the peak demand for water for palm trees occurs between mid-May and mid-July, a period during which palm trees consume most of their annual water needs to ensure the production of high-quality dates. The meeting also discussed several issues, including the development of agricultural infrastructure, enhancing sustainable cooperation between the Authority and the Association within the framework of signed agreements, and a shared vision for securing safe, long-term water sources for the palm sector, which today represents a pillar of food security and agricultural investment in the Jordan Valley.
It is worth noting that the area of ​​land planted with palm trees in the Kingdom exceeds 45,000 dunams, representing 20% ​​of the cultivated area in the Jordan Valley, and produces more than 35,000 tons of dates annually, approximately 65% ​​of which is exported to more than 55 countries around the world, at a value exceeding $60 million, making this sector a national economic lever by all standards. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board of Directors of the Jordan Dates Association commended the prominent role played by the Jordan Valley Authority’s field staff, praising the leadership of Engineer Al-Haisa and his commitment to ensuring the sustainability and equitable distribution of irrigation water resources. The Association also reiterated its full commitment to working together with the Jordan Valley Authority to ensure a stable and sustainable water future for palm cultivation, and to working in sincere cooperation between all national partners under the wise Hashemite leadership.