Agriculture ministry: Jordan’s water, soil ‘free’ of cholera bacteria contamination

Amman: Ministry of Agriculture said Jordan's water and soil are "free of any trace of cholera bacteria," after conducting a complete survey for this purpose. In a statement Sunday, the ministry said it welcomes any local, Arab or international regulatory body to conduct the "necessary" survey to clarify the truth after rumors were circulated by some media outlets, which alleged the Israeli side prevented Jordanian vegetable imports after claiming contamination of "cholera" bacteria. The ministry stressed its keenness to ensure that the local agricultural product is delivered to the consumer, both domestically and globally, under procedures and control programs on soil inputs, including "irrigation water, seeds and pesticides." The statement stated that this process is conducted, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water, Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) and the Royal Scientific Society (RSS). The ministry added that reports about contamination of Jordanian vegetable products "contradict reality," as all vegetable products come from Jordan's mountainous areas, which depend on groundwater for irrigation purposes. Jordan Valley region irrigated by water from Yarmouk River and the dam feeding the King Abdullah I Canal are "completely free" of any vegetable product at this time of year," the statement pointed out. The ministry called for abstaining from circulating incorrect information by suspicious parties and websites, which seek to harm the national economy without any documented evidence or scientific information. Source: Jordan News Agency