‘With drop in local supply, more imported lemons needed to reduce prices’

AMMAN — The Ministry of Agriculture on Monday called for increasing lemon imports to address the shortage and high price of the citrus fruit in the local market.

Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin said the ministry does not mind the import of lemons from any country that is free from citrus-related diseases and as long as the imports are in accordance with national standards.

“There is no local production of lemons currently and the supply is less than the demand, which will cause prices to remain high until August,” Haddadin noted.

Salah Tarawneh, the ministry’s assistant secretary general for marketing, said lemon production in the Kingdom starts in early August and ends in late March.

“Between April and July every year, the local market suffers a shortage in lemons. This year in particular, the shortage is higher because our borders with Syria are closed; therefore, there are no lemon imports from Syria or Lebanon,” Tarawneh told The Jordan Times.

The daily demand for lemons stands at 150 tonnes, Tarawneh said, adding that its prices are high currently because it is being imported from distant countries, which adds costs to importers.

Jordan imported 1,500 tonnes of lemons in April, 3,050 tonnes in March and 630 tonnes in February.

Jordan Exporters and Producers Association for Fruits and Vegetables President Zuhair Jweihan said the Kingdom imports lemons from Egypt, South Africa, Spain and Argentina.

“Lemon prices are high worldwide because production is limited and has dropped,” Jweihan told The Jordan Times.

He noted that local production of lemons is insufficient, and there are 20-30 importers of the citrus fruit.

“The wholesale price of 1 kilogramme of lemons ranges between JD1-JD1.5. Without lemon imports, it will reach JD2,” Jweihan highlighted.