‘Export square’ expanded, fees reduced following farmers’ complaints — GAM

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality has expanded the “export square” for fruits and vegetables and reduced the fees imposed on farmers for showcasing their produce there, according to a statement.

The square, erected in the Central Market in downtown Amman last year for the purpose of regulating and organising the distribution of fruits and vegetables both to local markets and abroad, has been the subject of wide dispute in the agricultural sector. 

The square was opened last Wednesday, and complaints that it “lacks infrastructure” and has “a very high fee for such a disorganised space” were some of the few mentioned in a statement by the Jordanian Farmers Association in December.

On Saturday, Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh said in a meeting with heads of the agricultural sector that the square has been expanded “with the aim of taking in the largest possible quantity of produce” and that the fee to partake has been reduced from JD10 to JD2.5 per tonne. 

Farmers had previously said that JD10 per tonne of produce is “too high of a price on an already financially burdened farmer”. 

In March of 2019, President of the Jordan Exporters and Producers Association for Fruits and Vegetables Saadi Abu Hammad told The Jordan Times that farmers will “start exporting through alternative channels if their demands [lowering the square’s fees] are not met”. 

He said that when the idea of the square was introduced, which his sector supported, the municipality did not mention that there would be any fees.

Shawarbeh concluded that the square will be “better organised once it has come into full operational mode” and that the farmer will now “only pay 25 per cent of the fees, with the municipality paying the remaining operational costs”.