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
