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AMMAN — Grappling with mounting economic pressures and consecutive seasons of financial loss, small-scale farmers in the Jordan Valley are struggling to sustain their agricultural livelihoods. Amid these challenges, a new cooperative lending model is offering renewed hope for revitalising the sector, according to stakeholders.

The initiative was launched under a tripartite memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and partner institutions as part of the Netherlands’ second Agricultural Support Project in Jordan.

The system was designed to provide low-interest loans to smallholder farmers, enabling them to invest in farm development and adopt sustainable agricultural technologies, according to a ministry statement.

Speaking to The Jordan Times, President of the Jordan Valley Farmers Union Adnan Khaddam described the initiative as “a significant step towards promoting sustainable agriculture and strengthening food security in the country”.

Khaddam stressed that the introduction of a cooperative lending system offers more than just financial relief; it instils a renewed sense of hope among farmers.

He emphasised that developing a credit framework tailored to smallholder farmers is key to transforming the country’s agricultural landscape by increasing access to financing and encouraging investment in modern, sustainable practices.

Farmer Nawash Yazjeen noted that “by leveraging the collective strength of agricultural cooperatives, the system creates a revolving fund that can be reinvested into members’ farming activities”. He added that this approach could help break the cycle of financial exclusion that has long constrained small-scale farmers.

Yazjeen also underscored the importance of ensuring the lending model is aligned with the sector’s actual needs, cautioning that the initiative’s success hinges on its ability to address on-the-ground realities.

Stakeholders across the sector view the Sustainable Agriculture Cooperative (SACO) model as a critical tool for enhancing the resilience and economic independence of small farmers.

As Jordan Valley farmers continue to navigate growing economic and environmental challenges, SACO presents a structured, community-driven pathway, one that may help them not only survive but thrive in an increasingly competitive agricultural environment.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a February 2024 State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing a drug dealer to over three years in prison after convicting him of selling 18 Captagon pills to an undercover agent.

The court declared the defendant guilty of obtaining illegal narcotics with the intent of selling the drugs to an undercover agent in Amman in August 2023.

The SSC handed the defendant five years in prison for the offence of possessing illegal narcotics and ordered him to pay JD5,000 in fines.

However, the court decided to reduce the fine to JD3,500 and the prison term to three years and four months in prison to give the defendant a second chance in life.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was in possession of illegal narcotics and sent one of its agents to pose as a buyer.

“The AND agent got in touch with the defendant and asked him for 18 Captagon pills in return for JD20,” court documents said.

When the two met, AND agents immediately arrested the suspect, court papers added.

Upon searching the defendant, court papers said, AND personnel found a small quantity of illegal narcotics on him". 

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that the court “did not provide solid evidence to implicate his client”.

The lawyer argued that the court relied on contradictory statements by the prosecution witnesses.

Meanwhile, the SSC prosecution office asked the higher court to uphold the sentence and the fine imposed on the defendant.

The higher court maintained that the SSC had followed the proper procedures in issuing the sentence against the defendant.

“It was clear to the court that the defendant confessed willingly to possessing the illegal drugs to sell in the local market,” the higher court said.

The Court of Cassation judges presiding were Yassin Abdullat, Nayef Samarat, Mohammad Khashashneh, Qassem Dughmi and Hammad Ghzawi.

AMMAN — Jordan has officially submitted a bid to host the 2026 Asian Cadet, Junior, and U21 Karate Championships, the Jordan Karate Federation announced on Thursday.

The bid was presented by Federation President Hassan Masoud during the Asian Karate Federation’s General Assembly, held in Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the ongoing Asian Senior Championships, which kick off on Friday with participation from Jordan’s national team, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Jordan faces competition from Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, who have also submitted hosting bids. The final decision on the host country will be determined through a vote by the General Assembly members at a later date.

-        Some 100 aid trucks in Jordan waiting to be allowed to go to war-torn Gaza

-        Since March 4, Jordan has evacuated 114 people from Gaza, 39 patients with 75 family escorts

-        All patients who returned to Gaza have completed their treatment

-        Patients receive high quality medical treatment at Jordan’s top private, public hospitals

-        Jordan seeks to evacuate more children from Gaza but ‘Israeli authorities still put hurdles’

AMMAN — Minister of Government Communication has said that Jordan is ready to deliver relief aid into Gaza, but Israeli restrictions have not allowed this aid to be sent into the war-torn Strip.

In an interview with The Jordan Times, Momani said, “Jordan is ready to deliver urgently needed relief aid into Gaza, with some 100 aid trucks in Jordan waiting to be allowed to go to Gaza. Israeli restrictions have not allowed this aid to be delivered.”

Momani, who is also the government spokesperson, said, “Jordan has always been at the forefront of providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza through all available means since the start of the war, including air drops, land convoys and air bridge.

Responding to the issue of Gazan child patients, who have received medical treatment in Jordan and went back to Gaza on May 13 and whose families spoke about their concerns to go back to Gaza with the war is still ongoing, Momani said, “Jordan announced it clearly from the beginning of the medical evacuation, which started in early March, that patients will go back to Gaza once they conclude their medical treatment as this will allow Jordan to bring more patients. For example, the return of the 17 children [on May 13]who fully completed their treatment allowed Jordan to bring another batch of child patients the next day, all of them were suffering from cancer.”

“The 17 child patients who returned with their family escorts were part of a group of 29 patients. Twelve patients are still in Jordan because they still have not completed their treatment,” Momani said.

The minister added that the Kingdom’s policy is “to support Palestinians’ steadfastness on their homeland, and not to contribute in any way to their displacement.”

“These patients were brought to Jordan and returned to Gaza under the same circumstances.”

Some families have claimed on videos circulated on social media that they were sent back to Gaza before their children completed treatment.

“These claims are completely false. Medical reports confirm that all the patients who returned to Gaza have completed their treatment. They all received the best medical care at Jordan’s top hospitals, and their families were provided with the best possible accommodations. Some of these patients underwent delicate surgeries, and they are all in good health now.”

He also said that patients “receive high quality medical treatment at Jordan’s top private and public hospitals. Jordan is well-recognised as a regional leader in medical care. For example, dozens of cancer patients from Gaza are being treated at the King Hussein Cancer Center, which is a leading institution in the region that has gained international recognition for its state-of-the-art facilities and quality care.”

In response to what the families who returned to Gaza said about Israeli authorities seizing their money, medicines, and personal belongings, Momani said, “This is unfortunately true. Israeli authorities seized at the border crossing with Gaza the belongings, money, mobile phones and even the food items carried by the people who returned from Jordan. This was on Kerem Shalom crossing.”

The minister said that Jordan seeks to evacuate more children from Gaza and to expedite the process but “Israeli authorities still put hurdles.”

“Jordan has always sought to evacuate child patients from Gaza by air but Israeli authorities have never agreed to such an arrangement.”

Despite the challenges, Momani said that Jordan, since March 4, has evacuated 114 people from Gaza (39 patients with 75 family escorts) in three batches in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

“The first batch was on March 29 when 29 children, accompanied by 44 of their family members, were brought into the Kingdom, and the second and third batches were on May 14 and May 20 when four cancer patients, accompanied by 12 family members, and six child cancer patients, with 19 family members, came to Jordan,” he said.

“Jordanian field hospitals in Gaza continue to provide critical medical care to the wounded and sick at a time when the health sector in Gaza has completely broken down due to the ongoing war.”

Jordan runs two military field hospitals in Gaza, one in the Strip's north, which was established in 2009 following the war in 2008.

The second was established in Khan Younis in the south in November 2023 at the peak of the Israeli war of aggression on the coastal enclave that erupted on October 7, 2023.

“Jordan has also evacuated several cases to receive necessary life-saving medical care in Jordanian hospitals before,” Momani said.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Syrian President Ahmad Al Sharaa discussed bilateral relations and regional developments during a phone call on Thursday.

His Majesty emphasised the need to expand cooperation between Jordan and Syria and to harness existing opportunities to advance mutual interests in key areas, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The King highlighted the importance of the Jordan-Syria Higher Coordination Council’s role in institutionalising and bolstering cooperation in vital sectors such as water, energy, and trade, the statement said. 

His Majesty reiterated Jordan’s support for Syrians as they rebuild their country in a way that guarantees Syria’s security, stability, and territorial integrity.

For his part, the Syrian president praised Jordan’s positions, under the leadership of the King, in supporting Syria to regain its international presence.

The two leaders stressed the importance of stepping up efforts to stabilise southern Syria and enhance the security of the two countries’ borders.

AMMAN — Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Wednesday received Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who conveyed a message from His Majesty King Abdullah, reaffirming Jordan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

Safadi delivered King Abdullah’s greetings and best wishes to King Hamad, and expressed his appreciation for the long-standing ties between Jordan and Bahrain. He emphasised Jordan’s keenness to enhance cooperation with Bahrain in various fields and to strengthen coordination on regional and international issues, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

In turn, the Bahraini monarch conveyed his greetings to King Abdullah and expressed pride in the "deep-rooted" historic relationship between both kingdoms, praising the ongoing joint efforts to strengthen their partnership and advance shared interests. 

During the meeting, regional developments and broader international issues of mutual interest were discussed, with King Hamad expressing his gratitude to King Abdullah for his leadership in promoting joint Arab action and for his support of efforts to achieve peace, security and stability in the region.

Safadi expressed Jordan’s appreciation for Bahrain’s role in strengthening Arab unity, commending the kingdom’s effective leadership during its recent presidency of the Arab League Summit.

Safadi arrived in Manama on Wednesday for an official visit, during which he is scheduled to hold talks with the Bahraini foreign minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, on bilateral relations and recent regional developments.

AMMAN — Jordan’s total exports increased by 11.6 per cent during the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period last year, driven by an 11.7 per cent increase in national exports and a 10.4 per cent rise in re-exports, according to figures released by the Department of Statistics (DoS).

The DoS monthly report on foreign trade also highlighted a 6.6 per cent rise in imports, which in turn contributed to a 2.2 per cent increase in the trade deficit during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Total exports during this period reached JD 2.306 billion, with national exports amounting to JD 2.093 billion and re-exports totalling JD 213 million, while imports stood at JD 4.679 billion for the same period.

The trade deficit, defined as the gap between the value of total exports and imports, amounted to JD 2.373 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up from JD 2.323 billion during the corresponding period of 2024.

In March 2025 alone, total exports amounted to JD 856 million, including JD 784 million in national exports and JD 72 million in re-exports, while  Imports valued at JD 1.614 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of JD 758 million for March 2025.

These figures reflect a notable improvement, with total exports increasing by 16.0 per cent compared to March 2024, and national exports rising by 18.4 per cent. 

Imports also grew by 4.2 per cent, while re-exports declined by 5.3 per cent, leading to a 6.5 per cent decrease in the trade deficit.