BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority agriculture minister on Friday said a number of cooperation agreements signed with Jordan will benefit Palestinian producers.

During a brief trip to the West Bank on Thursday, Jordanian Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh signed a number of trade deals with the Palestinian Authority.

Agriculture minister Walid Assaf said these included exchange of scientific expertise between the two sides to boost agricultural productivity.

The agreement will develop scientific research centers, veterinary cooperation, disease prevention and agricultural marketing, he said.

The minister mentioned that after Palestine began its first export of eggs to Jordan last week, he had to allay rumors that the eggs were actually produced in Israel.

Assaf traveled to Jordan to give assurances to Jordanian companies and agriculture ministry representatives, and to invite them to Palestinian farms, he said.

The agriculture minister said the olive harvest season begins on Friday, and yields are expected to increase on 2011.

The ministry is working hard on quality-control and developing more export markets for olive oil, he said, adding that some oil is already exported to Jordan and Europe.

He criticized Israel for not allowing Palestinian olive oil producers access to its market, and the Hamas-run government in Gaza for using products brought through tunnels under Egypt's border.