(MENAFN- Jordan Times) The Ministry of Agriculture is exploring new portals for exporting local produce to east European countries as the Syria route has been suspended, according to a government official.
Officials at the ministry are studying several scenarios for exporting fruits and vegetables to avoid an expected market glut during the 2012-2013 agricultural season.
"Minister of Agriculture Ahmad Khattab held a meeting with farmers and exporters of fruits and vegetables on Sunday to find solutions and suitable alternatives for exporting their produce," Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin said.
Syria is Jordan's main gateway for exporting fruits and vegetables to Turkey and Europe, but all exports came to a complete halt in July due to the crisis and the unstable security conditions in Syria, Haddadin noted.
According to agriculture ministry figures, in normal circumstances Jordan exports 180,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables to Syria, at a value of around JD40 million annually.
Overland cargo movement between Jordan and Syria, however, has reached "zero", with barely a single truck leaving Jordan for Syria or vice versa due to the escalating violence.
Between 300 and 400 freight trucks used to enter the Kingdom through Syria on a daily basis, according to official figures.
The ministry is considering contacting its Iraqi counterpart for opening its market to Jordanian produce and activating the transit of local agricultural produce via Iraq to Turkey and Europe, Haddadin noted.
The ministry and its partners will also look into exporting fruits and vegetables through the Port of Aqaba to European countries and coordinate with Syria to use its airspace to transport produce to Europe by air, the official said.
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