His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Saeb Abdul Halim Khraisat, met at the Ministry headquarters with the Chairman and Board of Directors of the Jordanian Dates Association (JODA) to follow up on the current state of the dates sector and to review the efforts being made to develop it and enhance its competitiveness.
Al-Khuraisat listened to the Board members’ remarks on various issues related to the date sector, most notably the need to continue plans to combat the red palm weevil and the importance of regulating quality control in light of the expansion of the date palm sector in the Kingdom. Preparations were also discussed for the 8th International Jordanian Date Festival, to be held in early November with the support of the Khalifa International Award, as well as the Scientific Date Palm Day, organized by the association and the National Center for Agricultural Research with support from the FAO in Amman and in cooperation with the Scientific Research Association on September 2, 2026. Additionally, the date harvest day, in strategic partnership with the FAO office in Amman, was discussed, to be held on September 30, 2026, in the Jordan Valley. His Excellency emphasized the importance of partnership and coordination between the Ministry and the private sector, which contributes to developing production, improving quality, and enhancing the presence of Jordanian dates in local and international markets.
His Excellency the Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture gives special attention to the date sector, given its promising opportunities and economic importance. He also stressed the importance of supporting farmers and increasing the added value of agricultural products, noting the importance of developing the production, marketing, and processing chain, and opening new markets for Jordanian dates. During the meeting, several proposals related to developing the sector, enhancing the promotion of Jordanian products, and supporting farmers and exporters were discussed, in addition to continuing coordination between the Ministry and the Association to serve the sector’s interests and enhance its sustainability.
For its part, the Board of Directors of the Jordanian Dates Association (JODA) appreciated the Ministry of Agriculture’s interest in the date sector and His Excellency the Minister’s keenness to listen to the observations of those working in it and follow up on the challenges they face. Engineer Anwar Haddad, President of the Association, emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and coordination to contribute to developing the sector, enhancing its position, maintaining the competitiveness of Jordanian dates in global markets, and employing modern technologies in this field.
