Amman, Aug. 2 (Petra) — The Jordanian Farmers Union has called on
farmers and livestock breeders across the Kingdom to follow proper
instructions and guidelines for dealing with the heatwave affecting
the country during the current season, in order to reduce possible
negative impacts.

In remarks to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Director General of the
Union Mahmoud Ouran said the current heatwave is the first to affect
the Kingdom this season. He noted that farmers’ experience in dealing
with similar weather conditions, along with their commitment to
recommendations issued by the union and relevant authorities, can
help reduce the impact of the heatwave on crops and livestock.

He called on livestock breeders to avoid taking animals to grazing
areas during midday hours and to limit grazing to early morning and
late evening periods. He also stressed the importance of keeping
young animals in shaded and protected places, providing sufficient
shade for livestock after grazing, ensuring a continuous supply of
drinking water and providing necessary vitamins to help address heat
stress.

Regarding the poultry sector, Ouran stressed the importance of
ensuring proper ventilation in poultry houses, especially open-sided
facilities, and providing cool water to maintain feed conversion
rates for broiler and layer chickens. He also called for painting
zinc-coated metal roofs white to reflect sunlight and reduce indoor
temperatures.

For fish and beekeeping, he called for continuing to renew and
increase water flow in fish ponds and providing shade where possible.
He also stressed the need to provide drinking water for bees and
place hives in shaded areas.

In the crop sector, Ouran urged farmers to increase irrigation water
quantities and carry out irrigation during early morning or evening
hours, while avoiding irrigation at midday to prevent water
evaporation and plant stress.

He also called for completely stopping the use of nitrogen
fertilizers and suspending all fertilization and pruning activities
until the heatwave ends. He encouraged farmers to spray amino acids
and add potassium to help plants withstand heat stress, while
avoiding the application of pesticides and foliar fertilizers during
periods of high temperatures and carrying out these operations in the
evening or at sunset.

At the end of his remarks, Ouran warned farmers and livestock and
crop producers about increased activity of reptiles, including
snakes, as well as harmful and venomous insects during periods of
high temperatures, urging them to exercise caution.

//Petra//WH