Frost-affected farmers to be compensated after damage assessment, says Hneifat

AMMAN — Frost-affected farmers will be compensated depending on the magnitude of the damage to their crops, Agriculture Minister Khalid Hneifat said on Tuesday.

Hneifat noted that the damage will be assessed by special committees formed for this purpose.

Touring areas in the Jordan Valley that witnessed frost damage, Hneifat told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that committees are formed in various Jordan Valley agriculture directorates to check on the damaged areas and the nature of the crops.

The minister added that there will be legal and financial procedures to be implemented according to the damage percentages in affected areas, where the Agricultural Risk Fund will compensate the frost-affected farmers. 

Head of the Lower House Agriculture, Water and Badia Committee MP Mohammad Alaqmeh said that the panel is following up on the sector and the problems. 

Head of the Jordan Valley Farmers Union Adnan Khaddam said that Monday and Tuesday nights were “harsh for the farmers”, as frost caused great losses in all areas of the Jordan Valley.

“When temperatures are below 5 degrees, losses are almost certain despite the readiness of the farmers,” Khaddam told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

He added that most losses were expected for exposed crops, especially potatoes, courgettes and tomatoes. The green houses did not witness any damage.

“We are hoping that there will not be frost or freezing temperatures on Wednesday,” Khaddam added.

The agriculture minister said that the Agriculture Ministry has been working to inventory the frost damage in production sites and will continue to count them. They aim to anticipate the legal procedures in force for compensating the affected farmers.

“The agricultural teams were directed to follow-up on all information and interventions by farmers to provide assistance in coordination with all partner agencies. They will deal with developments in the weather situation through indicative messages and to coordinate with the emergency department for forestry which works around the clock,” Hneifat said in the statement.