How did weather factors contribute to an unprecedented rise in the prices of vegetables and fruits in Jordanian markets

Weather of Arabia - Citizens complained about an unprecedented and unjustified rise in the prices of some types of vegetables in the Jordanian markets, for example, the price of one kilo of cucumber exceeded the dinar barrier last Saturday, and citizens wondered whether the increase in prices was a result of the repercussions of the war in Ukraine, but that The weather conditions that affected the Kingdom during the last period had the greatest impact on the rise in prices.

The Director General of the Jordanian Farmers Union, Engineer Mahmoud Al-Oran, said in an interview with Arab Weather, that the prices of vegetables and fruits in the Jordanian markets are subject to the base of supply and demand, and prices are determined according to the quantities received in the market and the quality of products, and the quantities imported to the market have decreased, especially some horticultural varieties due to weather factors that affected Kingdom over the past period.

For example, the quantities of tomatoes imported to the central market decreased by 50% compared to last year in the same period, as well as eggplant, whose quantity decreased from 300 tons (last year) to 60 tons (this year).

How have weather factors affected agricultural production this year?

Al-Oran indicated that Jordan depends heavily on the production of horticultural crops by Jordan Valley farms, and any temperature imbalance affects the general output. This winter’s frost waves have affected the farms of the Jordan Valley, both northern and central, and affected open and protected crops, and their impact reached almonds.

We must first clarify that low temperatures during the winter, particularly at the beginning of the fifties, is beneficial for non-flowering fruit trees and increases their production rate, because they need sufficient cold hours to get out of the dormancy stage to the production stage, and the low temperatures during that period contribute to killing Insects harmful to plants, which reduces the use of pesticides.

However, the low temperatures in the spring have a negative effect, and "spring frost" is one of the most dangerous types of frost on plants, because it occurs in the period when trees begin to grow, buds and flowers open and small fruits form, causing severe damage to crops.

According to engineer Mahmoud Al-Oran, the amount of damage to the exposed crops depends on two factors:

1. The sensitivity of the variety to temperature: such as the zucchini and cucumber varieties are very sensitive to lower temperatures.
2. The length of the freezing period and frost: Some frost waves this year extended for more than two days, and cold periods continued for a long period during the month of March.

With regard to protected cultivations , the low temperatures led to a delay in the flowering processes and consequently the delay in setting and ripening of the fruits.

With regard to the availability of vegetables and fruits, Al-Aouran stressed that the quantities received in the central market may decrease, due to the delay of farmers in planting with the continued low temperatures, as preparations for the next season are usually made during the month of March when the weather becomes warmer.

He called on citizens not to rush to buy during the holy month of Ramadan, due to the availability of all kinds of vegetables. He also called for the need to intensify official attention to the sector, and not to remain at the Ministry of Agriculture's table only, given that it is related to food security.