AMMAN -- The Ministry of Agriculture is distributing olive, fruit and palm saplings to be sold at preferential prices with the aim of increasing green areas in the Kingdom, officials said on Tuesday.
Early this month, the ministry started selling the saplings to the public and farmers, Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin said.
"Farmers wishing to plant olive, fruit or palm trees are invited to visit the ministry's nurseries in different regions and buy saplings at very low prices," Haddadin told The Jordan Times.
The initiative doesn't only target farmers, but is also open for people wishing to plant fruit or olive trees in their gardens, he said, noting that the saplings include all kinds of olives, grapes, figs, pomegranates, citrus fruits, loquats, pecans, pistachios, avocados and date palms.
"The initiative seeks to increase green spaces in Jordan, especially with crops and trees which are economically feasible," the official highlighted.
According to Mohammad Jamal, an agricultural engineer at the ministry's agricultural produce department, more than 800,000 fruit and palm saplings, as well as 18,000 ornamental plants are available for distribution.
"The average price of each sapling is 400 fils. The ministry will continue distributing the saplings until May or June next year," Jamal told The Jordan Times yesterday.
Palm saplings are sold for JD3, Jamal said, noting that they cost JD30-JD40 in private nurseries.
"The initiative doesn't seek to generate profits. We want to provide farmers and the public with healthy saplings that are free from any disease," he underscored.
Almond, apricot, peach, prune, apple and pear saplings will be ready for distribution in January next year, Jamal noted.
"In addition, new types of trees will be available in the future, such as persimmon and guava," he added.
© Jordan Times 2013
