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Ammon News - The government needs to adopt "stimulating and supportive" policies to enhance Jordan's food production, to address accelerating global developments related to scarcity of basic food sources and supply chains and hikes on commodity and shipping costs globally, Head of the Lower House Economy and Investment Committee, MP Khair Abu Sa'ilik, said.

In his statement issued Sunday, he said the rising prices of basic commodities will have "adverse" repercussions on Jordan's trade balance deficit and state budget.

Abu Sa'ilik also urged the government to take a number of "practical" measures, primarily aimed provide the Ministry of Agriculture and National Agricultural Research Center with high-level technical competencies to grow "strategic" and less water-dependent crops and introduce modern methods in this regard.

In addition, the deputy called on providing improved seeds to farmers at lowered prices and launching food industries through a number of incentives with developmental goals.

In these difficult circumstances, he noted Jordan possesses an important global commodity, which is phosphate (fertilizer), which provides the government with an opportunity to negotiate with countries that have begun bans on their basic foodstuff exports.

To find sustainable solutions, he called on the government to hold talks with the region's countries aimed at Middle East integration in the food security security.

Locally, he called on forming a national team, in partnership with the private sector to monitor global changes in supply chains, and recommend measures to secure goods for citizens "adequately" at reasonable prices, stressing the importance of raising awareness to change consumer patterns to keep pace with global changes.