National Olive Festival, Rural Products Exhibition Opens in Amman

Amman - Deputizing for His Majesty King Abdullah II, Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat inaugurated the 24th National Olive Festival and the Rural Products Exhibition on Thursday.اضافة اعلان

Hneifat emphasized that the festival aligns with royal directives to prioritize the agricultural industry, particularly the olive sector, as a cornerstone of Jordan’s agricultural and economic development. He highlighted the festival’s role as a vital marketing platform for olive farmers and rural families, contributing to agricultural sustainability and supporting local communities.

He noted that the olive tree is deeply rooted in Jordanian culture and identity, with olive farming spanning over 600,000 dunums of the Kingdom’s lands, employing thousands of farmers, and serving as a key pillar of the national economy.

Jordan’s annual production stands at approximately 170,000 tons of olives and 26,000 tons of olive oil, processed across 149 presses with a capacity of 408 tons per hour. This high-quality production has earned global recognition and numerous international awards.

Hneifat highlighted the Rural Products Exhibition as an essential showcase for rural women, small-scale farmers, and producers, presenting innovative and traditional goods such as foods and handicrafts that reflect Jordanian heritage. These efforts, he noted, enhance rural incomes and promote sustainable livelihoods.

The minister reaffirmed the ministry’s strategic commitment to supporting rural families by providing training, opening new marketing channels locally and internationally, and addressing challenges in the agricultural sector. He underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving sustainable agricultural development amid the current climatic and economic conditions.

Hneifat also detailed initiatives to support farmers and oil press operators, including agricultural guidance, pest control campaigns to ensure high-quality production, and legislative updates to protect agricultural products and natural resources while promoting food security.

He explained that the Olive Festival, in particular, has significantly boosted the marketing of local olive oil, facilitating the sale of approximately 25 percent of domestic production. This year’s festival incorporates innovative features, including a tracking system using barcodes for olive oil and honey packages and an emphasis on organic products. The event, which accommodates 900 participants and expanded parking for 1,000 cars, ensures stringent quality control through on-site laboratory testing by the National Center for Agricultural Research.

Hneifat expressed gratitude to the ministry's teams, including the National Center for Agricultural Research, the Cooperative Foundation, and the Agricultural Credit Corporation, for their efforts in organizing the festival. He also acknowledged the contributions of local and international partners in enhancing farmer resilience, sustaining agricultural productivity, and supporting Jordan's economy.

He underscored the ministry’s role in safeguarding local olive oil production by halting imports and ensuring high-quality standards that have earned Jordanian olive oil numerous international awards. Many Jordanian olive farmers have been recognized globally for producing some of the finest extra virgin olive oil.