‘Agriculture Ministry to compensate farmers for crop losses due to frost spell’

AMMAN — Farmers who lost some of their crops during last November’s frost spell will receive around JD1.3 million in government compensations, Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat said on Tuesday.

A total of 416 farmers, who lost 7,063 dunums of land and 19 greenhouses during the frost spell, will be compensated, Hneifat said.

“The farmers will receive JD1.386.815 million, which will be dispersed within days to farmers from the earnings of the Agricultural Risk Fund,” Hneifat told reporters during a press conference.

The frost damages were recorded in two areas, the Jordan Valley and Tafileh Governorate, Hneifat said.

In the Jordan Valley, 18 greenhouses and a total of 239 vegetable farms stretched over 2,730 dunums were affected during the frost spell that damaged eggplants, bell peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, zucchinis, beans, cauliflowers, tomatoes, garlic, corn and okras, among other vegetables.

Citrus farms were also damaged in the Jordan Valley area, according to the ministry’s data, which indicated that 173 citrus farms, stretched over 3,905 dunums, had been damaged.

Meanwhile, in Tafileh, some 185 kilometres south of Amman, only tomatoes were damaged, according to the ministry, noting that four farmers owning 427 dunums and one greenhouse sustained damages.

Hneifat said that the compensations to the farmers will be distributed for the first time ever from the Agricultural Risk Fund, which was established in 2009, noting that the fund is worth JD4 million.

“A special committee tallied up the amount of compensations to farmers based on the damaged percentage of each agricultural unit, crop damage proportion and the type of the damaged plant. Farms that sustained over 20 per cent damage of the total agricultural unit were compensated,” he added.

The Jordan Valley’s total agricultural area consists of 250,000 dunums, 170,000 of which are planted with vegetables, the rest consisting of bananas, grains and citrus fruits.

Previously, Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin explained that most vegetables are susceptible to damage during cold weather.

Frost warnings are issued when clear skies are coupled with temperatures near or below zero, and southeasterly winds, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department.

Hneifat noted that an agricultural insurance company will soon be established to compensate farmers who incur losses during snow, floods and heatwaves, noting that farmers who wish to benefit from the insurance company will be required to pay an annual percentage.