AMMAN — The
Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) has
asked the government to grant permission to import legumes and grains from
Syria at a time when cholera is spreading in the neighboring country, which
pushed the government to tighten checks on foodstuffs coming from there.
اضافة اعلان
Jordan still depends to a large extent on imports,
since there has been little official interest in helping the agricultural
sector boost self-reliance, needed now, when the food crisis makes itself felt
in many countries, more than ever.
Head of Jordan and Aqaba Chambers of Commerce
Nael Kabariti
told
Jordan News that in the absence of self-sufficiency, Jordan is
looking for the “closest, easiest, and quickest option to secure the need for
grains, and Syria is the best option that provides all these requirements”.
He added that the JCC had asked the Jordanian
government to remove the restrictions imposed on imports coming from Syria.
As for fears of cholera spreading through foodstuff
imported from Syria, Kabariti pointed out that “it is more prevalent in leafy
greens, than in grains”.
To address the issue, there is need for “action and
supervisions by the Ministry of Health for follow-up and health control, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply”, he suggested.
Farmer Ali Braizat told
Jordan News that
“grains are citizens’ sustenance and a basic need in the food sector”.
In view of the spread of cholera in
Syria, which may
hinder imports from there, the government should be even more aware of the
“importance of domestic production of this important and irreplaceable food
product”.
Director General of the Jordanian Farmers Union
Mahmoud Al-Oran told
Jordan News that “domestic production of grain must
be increased”, but that could only happen if the “government gives directives
to allocate arable land for that”.
Oran stressed that there is need for legislation
that “allocates enough and specific agricultural areas to farmers, in view of
the difficult conditions, such as climate change, political events and economic
turmoil”, and that, in view of overproduction of certain produce, the
government should force farmers to allocate a third of their land to produce
strategic crops, particularly grains, like wheat and barley.
“domestic production of grain must be increased”, but that could only happen if the “government gives directives to allocate arable land for that”.
“This solution would provide job opportunities, as
well as hard currency, and have a positive impact on the consumer,” he pointed
out.
He believes that “in view of the outbreak of cholera
in Syria, the reflex should be to prevent importing, not to demand it, even in
the presence of health measures, to ensure citizens’ safety.”
Oran stressed that importing, rather than resorting
to domestic production, has a negative impact on the local product, “as it
introduces an unequal competition that weakens demand for local products”.
Meanwhile, an informed government source said that
Jordan has started taking precautionary measures against cholera, which has
begun to spread in neighboring countries, to preserve Jordanians’ health and
safety, a local news outlet reported.
The source said Tuesday that the concerned
authorities are closely monitoring Jordan’s neighboring countries to assess
their epidemiological situation and that the most prominent of the measures
taken is to provide cholera tests in the various governorates of the Kingdom,
especially those neighboring border crossings.
The source added that tests are being conducted on
raw vegetables imported from Syria to ensure that they are free of the disease,
and that a decision will be taken regarding foodstuff imported from Lebanon.
The source stressed that there is a high level of
coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Jordan Food and Drug
Administration in examining food items before they enter the local market.
The
Ministry of Water and Irrigation, the source
said, conducts regular tests on water to ensure the preservation of citizens’
health and safety.
Adviser to the Prime Minister for Health Affairs
Adel Al-Balbisi had announced earlier that rapid tests for cholera will be
conducted only on suspected cases.
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