Farmers' Union: October Rains Herald a 'Good' Agricultural and Water Season
Amman3 min read
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The Director General of the General Union of Jordanian Farmers, Mahmoud Al-Awar, said on Tuesday that the rains that began to fall on the Kingdom herald a good rainy and agricultural season, compared to previous seasons.
Al-Awar added on Tuesday that the rains will have a positive impact on various agricultural and environmental sectors, and contribute to increasing soil moisture and enhancing water reserves in springs and wells, in addition to improving the growth of natural pastures and helping forest trees that were damaged during the past years of drought.
He pointed out that the rainfall will support the growth of field crops and fruit trees, primarily olives, and will also help improve the natural environment for plants and wildlife.
Olives
Regarding olives, Al-Awar explained that the rains help wash dust and dirt off the trees and fruits, which has a positive impact on farmers and those working in olive picking.
He added that the drop in temperatures accompanying the rainfall also helps get rid of insects on the trees.
He stressed that the rains do not increase the amount of oil in the olive fruit, but rather work to clean the trees and fruits.
He expected that most olive presses would open their doors to receive fruits within about 15 days, after completing their preparations and undergoing inspection by the concerned authorities, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, and the General Food and Drug Institution.
Wheat and Barley
Regarding field crops, Al-Awar called on farmers to speed up the cultivation of wheat, barley, and legumes, and to take advantage of the soil moisture resulting from the rainfall, especially since the planting time for these crops is limited to the coming weeks.
He explained that field crops depend largely on rainwater, and that the scarcity of rainfall in previous seasons led to a decline in farmers' interest in them, despite their importance in achieving food security and increasing the stock of strategic crops.
He emphasized that the current conditions provide an opportunity for farmers to expand the cultivation of wheat, barley, legumes, and other field crops, calling for the provision of production requirements, primarily seeds, equipment, and machinery, and overcoming the obstacles facing farmers.
He pointed out that increasing the production of field crops contributes to providing locally manufactured foodstuffs, reducing dependence on imports, and limiting the impact of price changes in foreign markets.
Al-Awar confirmed that the timing and quantities of rainfall are good indicators for field and exposed crops, and help improve the growth of crops that were affected during the past years due to the scarcity of rain.
He described the current rainy season as promising for the agriculture and water sectors in Jordan.
