APN | Amman
5 October 2025

APN has called urgent attention to the planned expropriation of nearly 3,500 dunums of agricultural land in Ghor Es- Safi and Ghor Fifa. The Department of Lands and Survey's decision in favour of the Arab Potash Company would enable the construction of a railway linking its factories in the Jordan Valley to the industrial port in Aqaba, putting vital farmland and local livelihoods at risk.

The issue was raised during a meeting with Minister of Environment Dr. Ayman Suleiman, Secretary General Dr. Omar Arabiat, and leaders of environmental associations in the Central Region. During the meeting, leaders stressed the need to strengthen civil society's participatory role in shaping environmental protection and sustainable development pathways.

APN’s Project Manager, Mohammad Qtaishat, highlighted that the project’s environmental assessment was never opened to public discussion, and local farmers and communities were excluded from consultations. This raised serious concerns about the project's potential impact on farmers’ livelihoods, food security, and the social fabric of the region.

APN, joined by 30 civil and national organisations, issued a position paper calling for a comprehensive review of the environmental and social impact assessment, the meaningful inclusion of all relevant stakeholders – particularly the Ministry of Agriculture – and urged the exploration of alternative routes that minimise harm to critical agricultural lands.

The coalition of organisations also called for an urgent high-level meeting to establish a participatory roadmap that safeguards national interest, food sovereignty, and the Jordan Valley’s agricultural integrity.