Dr. Fadel ELZUBI, Secretary-General of the National Alliance to Combat Hunger and Malnutrition and an expert in food security, explained that Jordanian agriculture—like much of the region—is facing mounting pressures due to rising production costs. The challenge is no longer confined to water scarcity, climate fluctuations, or market instability; rather, the cost of inputs themselves has become the greatest threat to the sustainability of the agricultural sector, placing farmers in a difficult economic equation: higher production costs against selling prices that cannot increase at the same pace.
ELZUBI noted that the reasons are multiple and intertwined. Chief among them is the rise in fertilizer prices, with Jordan relying on imports to meet a significant portion of its needs. Any disruption in global markets or increases in shipping and energy costs directly affect local farmers. Energy, he added, is embedded in nearly every stage of the agricultural process—from pumping water and operating machinery to cooling, storage, and transport.
“In a country suffering from water scarcity, the cost of delivering water to crops becomes a decisive factor in production economics,” he said, adding that rising labor and service costs impose further burdens, particularly on small farmers who lack the liquidity to purchase seasonal inputs or withstand a weak harvest.
The consequences extend beyond farmers’ incomes. The exit of smallholders from production cycles means the loss of part of the local productive base and greater dependence on external markets, at a time when global supply chains are repeatedly disrupted by geopolitical and climate shocks. Rising costs also feed into higher food prices for consumers and exert pressure on national food security.
ELZUBI explained that larger farmers can absorb part of these pressures by investing in solar energy, storage, and cooling, while smallholders remain the weakest link—vulnerable to losses or forced withdrawal from agriculture altogether.
Absorbing the Costs He stressed that solutions do not lie in open-ended direct subsidies, but rather in shifting from input support to efficiency support. Expanding the use of solar energy for irrigation pumping has already proven economically viable in the Jordan Valley compared to conventional energy sources. Precision agriculture and soil analysis, he added, help farmers apply the right amount of fertilizer instead of overuse, reducing costs while protecting the environment.
Furthermore, agricultural cooperatives and associations can play a pivotal role in collective purchasing of fertilizers and inputs, giving small farmers greater bargaining power and lowering unit costs. Developing accessible agricultural financing for working capital—linked to investment in cost-reducing technologies such as modern irrigation and efficient cooling—would enable farmers to better manage risks. Equally important is the development of agricultural insurance to help farmers withstand climate and price shocks.
On the marketing side, ELZUBI emphasized that reducing production costs alone will not suffice if farmers continue to receive only a limited share of the final price. The solution lies in minimizing unnecessary intermediaries between producer and consumer, strengthening farmers’ markets, contractual marketing, and cold-chain systems to reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmers’ share of value added.
Sustaining Agriculture ELZUBI concluded that sustaining agriculture requires smart policies that enhance efficiency, protect small farmers from exclusion, and safeguard national food security in the face of rising production costs.