AMMAN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's national food self-sufficiency rate rose to 61.4 percent in 2024, up 4.1 percentage points from 57.3 percent in 2020, official data showed Thursday.

According to the latest annual Food Balance Sheet report released by the Jordanian Department of Statistics (DoS), the improvement was driven primarily by expanded domestic agricultural yields and production surpluses in several vital crops, particularly vegetables. However, Jordan still relies on imports to meet demand for certain strategic commodities such as wheat, sugar, rice, legumes, and seafood.

A total of 28 agricultural products achieved a production surplus in 2024, up from 22 in 2020, according to the data.

It also revealed significant export-oriented surpluses in fresh vegetables, with self-sufficiency rates of 485 percent for cantaloupe, 173 percent for zucchini, and 167 percent for tomatoes.

In the fruit and tree crop sector, fresh apricots registered a self-sufficiency rate of 271 percent, while the olive sector maintained complete self-sufficiency at 100 percent, and olive oil production rose to 114 percent.

In the livestock sector, Jordan achieved full self-sufficiency in fresh milk supply and a 108.1 percent surplus in table eggs.

However, domestic poultry production accounted for 83.1 percent of local market demand, while red meat self-sufficiency stood at a low 35.9 percent, indicating continued reliance on imports. ■