POMEGRANATES (Punica granatum)
The pomegranate tree is considered one of the most ancient fruit trees in Jordan, and its cultivation is spread in various regions of the Kingdom of different geographical characteristics. Its plantation extends north from 200 meters below sea level to the rift valley, inland, heights, and the wider parts of Eastern Badia. The cultivation is concentrated in Governorates of Irbid, Ajloun, Tafileh, and Balqa. Jordan is home to over 25 varieties in taste ranging from sweet seedless, to sour-sweet, to sour. Currently in Jordan Pomegranates are planted in about 900 hectares with a production (2019) of 11,500 tons (average yield 12.7 ton/ha). Pomegranates in Jordan have many varied uses. The primary uses are: fresh fruit, fresh juice, concentrated juice, arils, products such as tea, pharmaceutical and medicinal uses, dyes and decoration.
Great part of the producers are sold their production of pomegranates as fruit in the wholesale markets of Irbid and Amman or, often long the streets of northern Jordan. However, the field analysis done during the inception phase has highlighted that several SMEs, private or in form of cooperative are processing the fruits, in order to produce juice, molasses, seeds oil and several other products. Practically all the parts of the fruit can be processed and the few residues that remains from the processing, can be used as food for animals. However, often in the Jordanian supermarkets are mainly present processed products from pomegranates from Lebanon or other countries.
