Jordan

Potato cultivation in Jordan is primarily concentrated in the Jordan Valley and the upland regions near Irbid, situated at elevations of 800–1,000 meters.The Jordan Valley, lying 300–330 meters below sea level, features very hot summers and warm winters, enabling two growing seasons—spring and autumn—with annual rainfall around 350 mm and average temperatures of 38°C in summer and 13°C in winter.In contrast, the uplands receive about 450 mm of rainfall annually and support only a spring crop due to climatic constraints, with planting from early April to mid-May.

In the Valley, planting occurs from late September to February, with regional differences: early October to mid-November in the south and mid-December to early February in the north, where some areas can support two crops annually.Irrigation in the Jordan Valley relies on flood or sprinkler systems, while the uplands occasionally utilize drip irrigation.

Most potato varieties grown are imported, predominantly from the Netherlands (e.g., Spunta, Alpha, Diamant), with additional varieties from France, Germany, and Canada. According to FAO data, in 2023, Jordan produced 193,729 tons of potatoes, with a harvested area of 4,815 hectares and an average yield of 40,234.5 kg/ha.

Potato cultivation in Jordan is a relatively recent development, introduced in the late 1930s or 1940s. Initially confined to small-scale holdings due to its potential for high cash returns, the crop gradually gained consumer acceptance, with annual consumption reaching approximately 25,000 tons by the early 1970s, largely met through imports from Lebanon .

This growing demand, combined with government support, encouraged farmers to expand potato cultivation after 1970. However, agricultural activity in the Jordan Valley was severely disrupted by the 1967 war with Israel, and the occupation of the West Bank resulted in the loss of some of Jordan’s most fertile agricultural land.

In response, the Ministry of Agriculture actively promoted potato farming both to satisfy domestic demand and to compensate for the loss of agricultural territory, while also providing an alternative to the overproduction of heavily subsidized crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers .