FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 10/00 - JORDAN (18 September)
Prolonged drought has decimated the 2000 wheat and barley crops. This is in the wake of a severe drought in 1999 that also seriously affected cereal and horticultural crops, and resulted in a decline of 88 percent in aggregate wheat and barley output to only 15 000 tonnes. The 2000 wheat crop is forecast at 20 000 tonnes, a slight recovery from last year, but only a third of the five year average. Similarly, the barley crop, estimated at 8 000 tonnes, is about 80 percent below average. The livestock sector was also severely affected, with sheep farmers the hardest hit.