Jordan

M.F. Khasawneh

INTRODUCTION

Wheat and barley are the main crops grown in the rain-fed areas of Jordan. These crops are also grown under irrigation in southern Jordan (Table 19). The varieties grown in Jordan differ from one area to another. Wheat varieties are Horani 27, Hawawi and F8 and barley varieties include Rum, Axad 175 and Axad 76. The productivity of these varieties varies from area to area depending on the average amount of rainfall (Table 20). Jordan is not self-sufficient in wheat and barley production and depends on imports to cover national needs (Table 21).

TABLE 19 - Area planted to wheat and barley in Jordan (ha)

TABLE 20 - Average wheat and barley production in Jordan (kg/per hectare)

TABLE 21 - Tonnes of wheat and barley imported into Jordan

Wheat and barley were rarely attacked by important diseases such as rusts and smuts until sunn pest became a major problem. Even so, no studies have been conducted to assess pest dynamics or damage.

The Jordanian Government currently encourages wheat and barley production by various means, including the following:

· supplying farmers with treated seeds, which are free of pests, at low prices;

· buying farmers’ produce at subsidized prices, thereby encouraging the production of wheat and barley;

· two major control efforts against sunn pest have been conducted at no cost to farmers in 1991/92 in central and southern Jordan;

· the Ministry of Agriculture is prepared to counteract sunn pest outbreaks when and wherever they occur.

THE SUNN PEST PROBLEM

Sunn pest was well known to farmers in past years, although by different names. It was not previously considered to be very important because of its low levels and the insignificant crop damage it caused. To date, no studies have been carried out on sunn pest control or biology.

There have been sunn pest outbreaks over the last three years in central and southern Jordan (Madaba, Karak). Nearly all wheat and barley fields in these regions were heavily infested. Sunn pest in Jordan was identified as Eurygaster integriceps Put.

CONTROL MEASURES

The only control tactic used for sunn pest in Jordan is chemical spraying. No other control measures, such as biological control, have been undertaken because of a lack of adequate research support and interest in those years when sunn pest was present but was considered to be insignificant.

Volaton ULV 930, a pesticide containing propoxur and dioxim, applied at a rate of 0.5 litres per hectare, was the only pesticide used during the last two control programmes. It was applied as both an aerial and a ground spray. The total cost of sunn pest control during the control programme in 1992 was US$210 300 (Table 22).

The Plant Protection Department of the Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of pest detection and supervises control programmes. It is also responsible for planning and supplying the various agricultural directorates with the necessary control plans. The directorates are the executives for the control of sunn pest within the area of their jurisdiction.

TABLE 22 - Cost of sunn pest control in Jordan in 1993

RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

No research has been undertaken on sunn pest despite the outbreaks experienced over the past three years.

CONCLUSIONS

Jordan has begun to address the sunn pest problem, although there is a lack of past and current research. Chemical control programmes have been instigated and the Government is ready to implement them if and when sunn pest becomes a problem in the future.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Research should be carried out on the biology and epidemiology of sunn pest in Jordan. More data are needed on the extent of crop losses during sunn pest outbreaks. Studies on the economic threshold for sunn pest are also necessary. Regional coordination projects with clear pest management policies applicable to Jordan and the region are perhaps the most important requirement.