Authorities say enough fruit, vegetables available for Ramadan

AMMAN — The Ministry of Agriculture will increase supplies of fruit and vegetables to the central market during the fasting month of Ramadan to keep prices stable, a government official said on Wednesday.

Supplying the market with main agricultural produce, such as tomato, cucumber and zucchini, is among the ministry's preparations ahead of Ramadan, which is expected to start in early June, Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin said.

He expected prices of agricultural produce to remain unchanged during Ramadan, highlighting that in addition to plans to increase supplies at the local market, the fasting month will coincide with the peak of the production season for fruit and vegetables in Mafraq, some 80km northeast of Amman.

A total of 25,000 dunums of land in Mafraq Governorate are planted with tomatoes and are expected to provide the local market with 200,000 tonnes during summer, according to ministry figures. 

Moreover, cucumbers are cultivated in 600 greenhouses in Mafraq, with each expected to provide 10 tonnes.

In addition, Haddadin said the available quantities of meat will exceed the needs of the local market, as there are currently 300,000 heads of Romanian sheep and 30,000 heads of local and Australian sheep, noting that the local market also has 23,000 tonnes of local poultry, in addition to imported chicken.

In Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset.

Food and beverage consumption rises considerably during the fasting month due to changes in eating patterns.

Haddadin urged the public to avoid overstocking on food and other commodities ahead of Ramadan, noting that this leads to a hike in prices.