jordan pulse -
Food prices in Jordan rose by 1.8% by the end of last February, according to a monthly report by the World Bank, at a time when the Department of General Statistics indicated that the inflation rate in Jordan increased by 1.57% during the same month compared to February 2023.
According to a report by the World Bank, Food prices in Jordan continued to rise for the eighth month in a row, after rising by 3% in January, 2.2% in December, 0.8% in November, 1.7% in October, 1.3% in September, 0.6%. % last July, and 1.2% last August, despite a decline of 1% at the end of June and 1.9% at the end of May.
The World Bank indicated that local food price inflation remains high, with 60% of low-income countries witnessing inflation rates higher than 5%, and 63.8% of the lower middle-income countries and 39% of the upper middle-income countries suffering from these same rates. from middle-income countries (7.0 percentage points lower), and 27.3% from high-income countries. In real terms, food inflation exceeded headline inflation in 58.9% of the 168 countries for which data were available.
According to the Department of General Statistics, the general consumer price index for the month of February reached 110.02, compared to 108.32 for the same month in 2023, and the index for the month of February 2024 reached 110.02, compared to 109.72 for the previous month of the same year. As for the cumulative level, the index for the first two months of 2024 reached 109.87, compared to 107.97 for the same period in 2023.
A previous report by the World Bank referred to statements by the Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Al-Hunaifat, in which he stressed the pivotal role of the agricultural sector in food security, and highlighted the efforts The Ministry to finance modern irrigation systems, amend the Agricultural Risk Management Fund to expand coverage and contribute to the construction of water wells, dams, water facilities, and land basins to enhance the ability to adapt to climate change.
The bank explained that the Jordanian government aims to enhance national food security by establishing the first national seed bank, expanding food storage capabilities to 400,000 tons, and digitizing operations at the port of Aqaba, which enhances Jordan’s logistical and food security capabilities.
The World Bank report indicated that the World Food Program reported a funding shortfall, limiting food aid to refugees amid rising levels of food insecurity among refugees in Jordan in the second half of 2023.