New lending model offers lifeline to Jordan Valley’s small-scale farmers

AMMAN — Grappling with mounting economic pressures and consecutive seasons of financial loss, small-scale farmers in the Jordan Valley are struggling to sustain their agricultural livelihoods. Amid these challenges, a new cooperative lending model is offering renewed hope for revitalising the sector, according to stakeholders.

The initiative was launched under a tripartite memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and partner institutions as part of the Netherlands’ second Agricultural Support Project in Jordan.

The system was designed to provide low-interest loans to smallholder farmers, enabling them to invest in farm development and adopt sustainable agricultural technologies, according to a ministry statement.

Speaking to The Jordan Times, President of the Jordan Valley Farmers Union Adnan Khaddam described the initiative as “a significant step towards promoting sustainable agriculture and strengthening food security in the country”.

Khaddam stressed that the introduction of a cooperative lending system offers more than just financial relief; it instils a renewed sense of hope among farmers.

He emphasised that developing a credit framework tailored to smallholder farmers is key to transforming the country’s agricultural landscape by increasing access to financing and encouraging investment in modern, sustainable practices.

Farmer Nawash Yazjeen noted that “by leveraging the collective strength of agricultural cooperatives, the system creates a revolving fund that can be reinvested into members’ farming activities”. He added that this approach could help break the cycle of financial exclusion that has long constrained small-scale farmers.

Yazjeen also underscored the importance of ensuring the lending model is aligned with the sector’s actual needs, cautioning that the initiative’s success hinges on its ability to address on-the-ground realities.

Stakeholders across the sector view the Sustainable Agriculture Cooperative (SACO) model as a critical tool for enhancing the resilience and economic independence of small farmers.

As Jordan Valley farmers continue to navigate growing economic and environmental challenges, SACO presents a structured, community-driven pathway, one that may help them not only survive but thrive in an increasingly competitive agricultural environment.