He added that these attacks cause losses to farmers, especially with the approach of the harvest season, after months of caring for the trees and waiting to reap the harvest, calling for measures to be taken to limit fruit theft and preserve the rights of landowners.
Fears of these incidents recurring have pushed a number of farmers and landowners in the Bani Kinana District, Al-Taybeh District, and other areas in Irbid Governorate to tighten protection measures by continuously monitoring their lands, sleeping in the orchards, and organizing night guard shifts in an attempt to prevent theft and protect their crops from losses.
For his part, the Director of the Irbid Agriculture Directorate, Dr. Abdul Hafiz Abu Orabi, affirmed the directorate's and the concerned authorities' keenness to follow up on farmers' issues and work to provide the appropriate conditions to protect agricultural production.
Abu Orabi called on farmers to immediately report any attacks or suspicious movements within agricultural lands, in coordination with administrative governors and security services, stressing the importance of adhering to the official instructions and dates set for olive harvesting and the opening of olive presses, which contributes to maintaining the quality of the oil.
He stressed the importance of intensifying monitoring of olive transport operations and verifying their sources, in a way that protects farmers' rights and helps curb crop theft.
