Arjan Pomegranate Harvest Season Opens Door for Marketing Local Produce
Amman3 min read
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The start of the pomegranate harvest season in the Arjan region of Ajloun Governorate coincides with a marketing campaign for the fruits produced by the agricultural orchards in the area, where farmers are sorting, packaging, and offering the produce in local markets, while some are reserved for household consumption and home processing.
Ajloun Agriculture Director Engineer Seitan Al-Sarhan said that pomegranate is one of the fruit-bearing trees planted in several areas of the governorate, noting that the harvesting, circulation, and sorting processes are essential stages in maintaining the quality of the product and enhancing its marketing value.
He added that the arrival of the fruits to the markets in good quality requires observing the appropriate harvest time and handling them in a way that minimizes their exposure to damage, emphasizing the importance of expanding packaging and classification methods that help the farmer market his produce better.
Farmer Abdullah Al-Ghazzau pointed out that the pomegranate season witnesses activity in the Arjan orchards with the beginning of the ripening of the fruits, noting that farmers sort the crop by size and quality before marketing it, while some quantities are sold directly to consumers and others through local markets.
He pointed out that the way the product is displayed affects its marketing, especially since the consumer is looking for fruits of good size and healthy appearance, explaining that direct selling allows the farmer to reach the consumer without multiple intermediaries.
Farmer Mahmoud Sawalme said that the pomegranate produced in Arjan finds its way to the markets during the season, while farmers face the challenge of disposing of the entire production during the harvest period, especially when the abundance of the crop coincides with the production of other regions.
He added that taking advantage of the surplus in the manufacture of juice, pomegranate molasses, and other products can provide additional options for farmers and reduce the loss of fruits that do not find their way to the market as fresh fruits.
For his part, farmer Ahmed Al-Muqaddasi explained that the costs of tree maintenance, harvesting, and transportation are reflected in the final price of the product, noting that organizing the marketing process and providing direct sales outlets can help improve the income received by the farmer.
He pointed out the importance of supporting local agricultural products and linking them to markets, commercial outlets, and tourist sites, which allows for expanding the consumer base for the product and gives the farmer a better opportunity to dispose of his crop during the season.
