Ministry teams start examining Jordan Valley crop damage

AMMAN — The Ministry of Agriculture on Monday started examining the magnitude of crop damage in the Jordan Valley following a five-day snowstorm that witnessed strong winds and freezing temperatures.

Technical committees from the ministry have started inspecting frost damage to crops in the Jordan Valley, Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin told The Jordan Times.

“The teams were dispatched to the northern, central and southern parts of the Jordan Valley to assess farmers’ losses following the frost spell,” Haddadin said.

Initial surveys indicate that potatoes and zucchinis were the hardest hit by the frost and the technical teams will determine the percentage of damage to both crops, he added.

“The teams are expected to submit their reports to the ministry within a few days,” Haddadin noted.

Underscoring that frost is still expected this week, the agriculture official said farmers in the Jordan Valley should continue taking precautionary measures.

The Jordan Valley’s total agricultural area consists of 250,000 dunums, 170,000 of which are planted with vegetables and the rest with bananas, grains and citrus fruits.

Crops cultivated in the highlands, such as almonds and apples, will not be affected by the frost as they need low temperatures, according to Haddadin.

Frost warnings are issued when clear skies are coupled with temperatures near or below zero and southeasterly winds, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD).

During frost spells, Jordan Valley farmers should warm up greenhouses during the day and close them at night to preserve the heat. When temperatures dip to around zero, they should also burn dry grass near the crops and irrigate them slightly to minimise the impact of frost.

In addition, cattle breeders should visit the ministry’s directorates and veterinary clinics to receive vaccines and instructions on how to keep newborn animals inside barns, and secure water and fodder for them.