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Farmers want gov’t to ban onion imports to reduce sector’s losses

By Omar Obeidat - Feb 25,2015 - Last updated at Feb 25,2015

AMMAN — Farmers on Wednesday demanded that the government ban the import of onions from regional countries, claiming that hundreds of local growers are incurring losses.

In order to push authorities to speed up the ban on imports, dozens of farmers demonstrated outside the Agriculture Ministry, bringing with them a number of trucks laden with large quantities of onions to show that local production is at its peak. 

Several farmers interviewed by The Jordan Times said the demand to ban imports aims to prevent a further fall in prices and stop “dumping” in the domestic market, which would cause losses to producers. 

Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin told The Jordan Times that the ministry opens the door for imports only when there is a shortage in domestic production, adding that the minister met the farmers and told them that imports will be banned as of March 1. 

Rateb Al Adhash, a farmer from Lajjoun in Karak, some 150 kilometres south of Amman, said he planted a 300-dunum area with onions.

Calling on the ministry to protect local production, he added that it surpasses domestic needs and large quantities can be exported.

According to Adhash, Jordan currently imports onions from Lebanon, Egypt and Yemen. 

“Currently a kilogramme of onions is sold at JD0.10 because of imports, but if imports are banned the price per kilo would jump to JD0.45,” he said, arguing that this arrangement would be fair for both farmers and consumers. 

Adhash noted that this year’s production looks to be “very promising” due to the good rainy season. 

Khaled Shayeb, another angry farmer outside the ministry, said he has cultivated onions on 200 dunums in Jizeh and Um Al Amad, south of Amman, and claimed that the quality of local onions is better than imported produce. 

Jordan produces around 80,000 tonnes of onions per year, cultivated on over 34,000 dunums –– 12,000 dunums irrigated and 22,000 rain fed — Shayeb noted. 

Mohammad Maaytah, who came from Karak, said farmers from across the Kingdom will set up an association to serve their interests. 

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