Production and Marketing Problems Encountering Palm Trees Farmers in Jordan

(Ebraheem Suliman Al- Tahat and Mohammad Salem Al-Tarawneh )

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Abstract

Palm cultivation in Jordan is relatively new and have seen significant expansion. This is due to suitab climate, investment conditions, and the application of income diversification policies in Jordan. The purpose of this work is to explore the problems confronting palm trees farmers in Jordan and measure the degree of their concern with these problems. In addition, it aimed to analyze the economic and social characteristics of the farmers throughout a questionnaire distributed to 57 farmers. The questionnaire included a scale of 27 section with its first section covering general information including age, qualification, experience, and the farmland area. Five points Likert Scale was used to measure the response of the farmers to the problems. Reliability and consistency of the study tool was evaluated by a group of expert doctors in agriculture. Reliability test alpha coefficient was 0.79. The results showed that interest rates on agricultural loans are the most important problem followed by obtaining agricultural loan. The least important problem was the inadequacy of market places. The results also showed that the existence of a significant relation between personal characteristic with the importance and degree of problems effects on farmers of palm trees in Jordan at a significant level P<0.05. The study thus recommends facilitating measures and overcoming the procedural obstacles of obtaining agricultural loans for farmers. Key Words: Likert, Palm trees Problems.
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