Farmers, cattle breeders urged to take precautions as rain, snow expected

AMMAN — Farmers, cattle breeders and owners of fisheries and poultry farms are urged to follow the instructions of the Agriculture Ministry to avoid losses during the forecast cold air mass and depression, an official said on Monday.

Farmers must take all precautionary measures ahead of the expected weather conditions, during which strong winds and freezing temperatures are forecast, Ministry of Agriculture Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin said.

Crops should be slightly irrigated when temperatures dip and frost is expected to form, Haddadin said, highlighting that farmers should warm up greenhouses during the day and close them at night to preserve the heat.

In addition, farmers are also required to warm up the surrounding air at the farm at night by burning dry grass near the crops, according to Haddadin, who warned against lighting up old tyres and polluting the air.

Meanwhile, cattle breeders are urged to visit the ministry’s directorates and veterinary clinics to receive vaccines and instructions and to keep their animals, especially newborns, inside the barns.

With expected flood formation, the ministry urged owners of cattle herds to move away from low-lying areas to avoid flash floods, while owners of fisheries are requested to avoid feeding the fish during the freezing temperatures and to monitor the temperature of the ponds.

“Farmers are also urged to stay updated on the weather forecast and to visit our directorates across the country for further help,” Haddadin told The Jordan Times.

The Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said on Monday on its website that the Kingdom is expected to be affected by a cold and wet air mass and a depression, which cause temperatures to dip below their annual average for this time of the year.

The combined weather condition is expected to bring thunderstorms and hail as well as heavy rain, according to the JMD, which also said that snowfall in areas located 1,200 metres above sea level is probable on Wednesday afternoon.