Agriculture Ministry blames heatwave for rising price of tomatoes

AMMAN — Shoppers are complaining about the prices of fruit and vegetables, as the price of tomatoes reached JD0.89 a kilogramme on Monday. 

Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin attributed the hike in prices to the recent heatwave, which led to smaller crops, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Customer Mahmoud Manakhreh blamed the price increases on the export of domestic produce. 

“Yesterday I bought a kilo of tomatoes for JD0.89, which I canbarely afford,” he told The Jordan Times.

Mustafa Haikal, a shop owner, told the Jordan Times that all produce has become more expensive, attributing the price rises to the costs of transportation, commissions taken by dealers and taxes imposed by the municipality.

“Also, another reason is that farmers focused on the Ramadan market and timed their crops to it, “ Haikal said, adding that the high demand from restaurants after the Muslim fasting month has driven prices up. 

The president of the Jordan Exporters and Producers Association for Fruit and Vegetables, Saadi Abu Hammad, said the prices of tomatoes and cauliflower have increased while the cost of other vegetables has remained stable, according to Petra.

Hammad expected a continuous increase in prices during the summer as temperatures remain high, reducing production, noting that the daily demand for fruit and vegetables in Jordan is 350 tonnes while the available supply is 271 tonnes.