Premier calls for reasonable pricing of fruit, vegetables

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Thursday called for addressing the “unreasonable difference” between the prices of vegetables and fruits paid by end users and their wholesale prices at the Central Vegetable and Fruit Market.

He made his remarks during a meeting with officials in charge of the central market in Amman, attended by Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani.

The premier stressed that any regulatory measures targeting the market should ensure a balance between the interests of farmers and consumers, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

In addition, he urged all stakeholders to preserve the “good reputation” of Jordan’s agricultural produce in the local market and abroad, pointing out the need to take advantage of commercial attachés at the Kingdom’s embassies to address obstacles facing the entry of Jordanian products into targeted markets.

One of the measures that should be taken, Ensour noted, is the unification of packaging standards and specifications, which should ensure that vegetable and fruit shipments are of the highest quality.

Public health safety and the environment should be taken into consideration as top priorities when the specifications of packaging and transportation conditions are set, he said.  

To make sure that all stakeholders are reading from the same page, the prime minister called for a meeting where all concerned parties sit together and discuss pressing issues related to the central market, including the possibility of opening another market, the fees collected by the Greater Amman Municipality and guest labour.

Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji, who heads the committee administering the central market, outlined the operations of the facility, which annually  handles a million tonnes of agricultural produce.

Referring to problems detected in the market, he singled out “arbitrary sales” and a degree of disorganisation in its work, noting that the administration is working on the quality issue.

Abdul Majid Odwan, director of the central market, said the supply of vegetables and fruit coming to the market exceeds demand, which leads to a drop in prices.

Odwan noted that the facility, which was established in 1995, has become old and too cramped for the increasing quantities of produce the market handles daily, adding that opening another market has become a necessity.

He stressed that market officials make sure that the packaging meets the standards set to protect public health and the environment. 

Chairing part of the Cabinet meeting on June 18, His Majesty King Abdullah highlighted a number of issues of concern to citizens, mainly during the holy month of Ramadan when demand for foodstuff rises.

“You must shoulder the responsibility of providing commodities at reasonable prices to citizens and ensure the readiness of the military and civil service consumer corporations during the holy month,” the King said. 

He stressed the need to monitor prices before, during and after Ramadan to protect citizens from any unjustified hike in prices. 

His Majesty noted that pressure on services in most governorates, mainly Irbid and Mafraq, will increase due to the influx of Syrian refugees. 

“Therefore, more should be done to preserve the quality of services offered to citizens.”