Cattle Farmers: The Minister Refused to Meet Us… We Face a Dark Tunnel
International food security expert Dr. Fadel El-Zubi stated that the dairy sector in Jordan is one of the fundamental pillars of national food security, as it is directly linked to the rural economy and cattle farms that provide livelihoods for thousands of families.
El-Zubi explained that long-life milk, known as UHT milk, is heat-treated at high temperatures to make it suitable for long-term storage without refrigeration. It is often used in food industries such as sweets, baked goods, canned products, restaurants, cafés, and in most Jordanian households, given milk’s role as a daily cultural staple for families.
However, according to El-Zubi, the introduction of large quantities of UHT milk into the Jordanian market has negatively affected demand for local raw milk, driving prices down to levels below production costs, thereby weakening the ability of small and medium-sized farms to survive.
He pointed out that countries such as Morocco and Tunisia faced similar challenges by imposing restrictions on UHT milk imports, while simultaneously supporting the establishment of local factories to produce it.
El-Zubi also noted that some emerging markets tied imports to programs requiring food industries to use a fixed percentage of local milk, ensuring the sustainability of national farms and maintaining balance between imports and domestic production.
He believes that the solution in Jordan requires a set of practical measures, most notably stricter monitoring of quotas to ensure they are not exceeded, supporting the establishment of local factories to produce UHT milk through public-private partnerships, and incentivizing food industries to use local milk via tax breaks or direct subsidies.
The current crisis underscores that the issue of UHT milk is no longer merely about imports or price competition, but has become a test of Jordan’s ability to protect a vital sector tied to food security and the rural economy.
Between farmers’ demands for tighter oversight and the Ministry of Agriculture’s assurances of continuing localization plans, the need emerges for a balanced policy that protects local producers, addresses industrial needs, and lays the foundation for a national industry capable of producing UHT milk domestically—thus strengthening Jordan’s food independence in the long term