Northern Jordan Valley, Dec. 16 (Petra) -- The Northern Jordan Valley Agriculture Directorate has deployed two assessment committees to survey the impact of an overnight frost event that affected extensive cultivation areas early Monday morning.

According to Northern Jordan Valley Agriculture Director, Mohammad Al-Nuaim, the committees have commenced preliminary field assessments to evaluate the scope of frost-related crop damage across the affected agricultural zones.

"A comprehensive damage assessment will require several days to determine precise loss percentages, particularly as nocturnal temperatures continue to register sub-zero readings," Al-Nuaim stated.

Initial field surveys in the Wadi Al-Rayyan and Al-Mashare' districts indicated severe damage to summer squash crops, with varying degrees of impact on other cultivars.

Detailed impact assessments will be documented in forthcoming field committee reports.
The Directorate has coordinated with the Jordan Valley Authority to implement emergency irrigation measures for affected cultivation zones to mitigate frost damage.

The Agriculture Director urged producers to implement frost protection protocols during the current cold spell.

Local producers interviewed by Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported widespread damage to exposed vegetable crops, with summer squash suffering significant losses. Additional impacts were observed on tropical species, particularly papaya plantations, as well as solanaceous crops including eggplant and pepper fields.

Crop losses in certain areas may reach total devastation, with potential delayed impact on citrus orchards.

Agricultural stakeholders have requested expedited damage assessment procedures, citing concerns regarding production volumes, crop quality, and economic implications.

//Petra// AA

16/12/2024 18:22:40