Irbid farmers expect exceptional yield this season

IRBID — Farmers in the northern part of Irbid Governorate describe this year’s agricultural season as “exceptional”. 

As the wet season brought a higher rainfall average than last year and the years before, several farmers told The Jordan Times over the weekend that 2015 will be an exceptionally good year in terms of cereal yield.
The production of other crops like string beans and chick peas is also “exceptional” this year, according to Rateb Damen, from the village of Hatem in Bani Kinanah District. 

Damen said the rainfall witnessed across the Kingdom over the weekend did not have any negative impact on wheat and barley in terms of worm infestation as farmers feared. 

Salem Obeidat, a resident of Harta village, also described the harvest season as special this year due to the heavy winter rain.

“It is one of the best years I have seen in my life in terms of wheat yield,” Obeidat said while inspecting his farm outside the village, some 100 kilometres north of Amman. 

Mohammad Munawer, who hails from the same village, said he planted over 20 dunums with chick peas, zucchini and okra. 

He expects to harvest the crops in just two weeks. 

Although it is possible that prices of these vegetables will go down due to the expected large output, farmers will still make higher profits than last year as they will sell more, Munawer noted. 

Fouad Sahawneh, from the village of Al Rafid, said olive trees are expected to yield double the quantity produced last year, thanks to the good rainy season.