Annoying problem

I had the occasion to stay a couple of days at one of the five-star hotels at the Dead Sea a few days ago, and I must say that it was a most pleasant weekend. Or it should have been.

The weather was just right, sunny and warm, but not too hot. Everything was fine, except for the flies and mosquitoes that were too many and too much to bear.

Even though it was a short stay, I wanted to pack up and leave despite all the otherwise attractive amenities all around the hotel facing the Dead Sea. Flies all day and mosquitoes all night would simply be too much for anybody.

The area witnessed such a problem in the past, but I thought that it had been “fixed” for good after farmers were convinced to shift from natural fertilisers, thus destroying the breeding ground for the pests.

Now is the time, and season, to act once again as farmers begin growing vegetables and fruit in the Jordan Valley and start using fertilisers liberally for their produce.

It seems that despite all previous repeated warnings, farmers still opt to use the cheaper kind of fertilisers, at the expense of tourism and burgeoning neighbourhood by the Dead Sea.

It also appears that authorities’ decision to wage war on the use of natural fertilisers has waned over the years, and now we are back to being victims of flies and mosquitoes.

This is not to suggest that tourism is more important and precious to the national economy than farming, but the country needs not make such a choice, as the two objectives can be realised harmoniously and simultaneously by simply applying the rules against the use of natural fertilisers, especially in the Dead Sea area, which is a tourism hub during the winter season.

As is, the situation is simply unbearable and action must be taken.

If the cost of shifting to artificial fertilisers is what drives farmers to use the natural kind, then the government may consider offering them tax incentives to use the less harmful means of production.

Meanwhile, the use of natural fertilisers should be banned.

Authorities may have to police the strict observance of the ban and hold violators accountable, applying stiff fines.

This problem has to be solved, and soon.