The rising temperatures have prompted mostly positive reactions from Jordanian farmers, who expect increased agricultural production, though the uptick in water use poses a concern. According to Adnan Khaddam, head of the Jordan Valley Farmers Union, there is no agricultural loss due to high temperatures in the valley. However, he did not dismiss the possibility of the weather’s negative impacts during the summer.
Founder of the Sustainable Agriculture Association, Waleed Al Qeshawi, said that the rise in temperatures greatly affects crops and the flowering process. According to the Ministry of Water, Jordan’s agriculture sector consumes 50 percent of the available water resources in Jordan. However, this figure only represents 60 percent of the needs of the sector. Qeshawi also touched on agricultural overproduction during the season: “For example, we have a surplus of potatoes in the markets due to the weather, which causes losses for farmers.”
Source: jordantimes.com