Heatwave takes toll on crop yield: Jordan

Heatwave takes toll on crop yield: Jordan

AMMAN — The heatwave which has affected the Kingdom for the last 10 days is causing a sharp decline in Jordanian farms’ crop yield, according to sector representatives and local farmers.

“The rise in temperatures is 12 to 15°C higher than usual. Therefore, a significant impact on this season’s crop yield is expected,” General Manager of the Jordanian Farmers Union (JFU) Mahmoud Oran told The Jordan Times.

The heatwave, which has been accompanied by a lack of water used for irrigation, will also affect production quantities during upcoming seasons, as it poses risks impacting the development and growth of plants, he added.

On August 31, the fifth day of the heatwave, only 280 tonnes of tomatoes entered the central vegetable market, marking roughly a 50 per cent decrease, Odeh continued.

He also called for “activating the role of scientific research in order to produce improved varieties and breeds capable of adapting to climate change”.

President of JFU Odeh Rawashdeh noted that the agricultural sector is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

“This unprecedented rise in temperatures is putting the sector at risk, damaging crops and causing a notable hike in prices,” he told The Jordan Times.

The heatwave has also caused a delay in the