Realizing Sustainable Agriculture and Efficient Water Management
in the Azraq Basin in Jordan through the Adaptation and Integration of Proven
Technology and Community Partnership
Project Objective
The most Challenges in which the agriculture sector
in Azraq faces are:
over- exploitation of ground water which caused depletion in ground water
levels and ground water salinity, Soil Salinization due to wrong agriculture
practices, Climate Change and Lack of awareness and extension support in this
field. The previous mentioned challenges caused decrease in livestock
production, increased desertification and loss of Wetlands. The project aims to
overcome the challenges face the local community in Southern Azraq through
an integrated sustainable packaged solution
Integrated Sustainable Packaged Solution
Irrigation
Systems Design and Management
Introduce
the use of drip irrigation systems instead of surface irrigation for irrigating
crops. The use of drip irrigation systems will reduce the amount of water used
for irrigation and so decrease the stress ground water. Drip irrigation systems
will be installed in two farms as a pilot for other farmers.
Salinity Management
Utilization
of magnetic water treatment devices as part of the solution and mitigation of
groundwater and soil salinity. Development of best use practices for this
technology to enable farmers to utilize it. Furthermore, training to farmers
and young professionals on its use will be conducted.
Sustainable
Agriculture (Saline Tolerant Species + Organic Agriculture + Adaptation to
Climate Change)
Identification and selection of salt and drought
tolerant productive forage crop species which are appropriate for the area. Re-use
of treated wastewater in agriculture is part of sustainable agriculture.
Pilot
The above-mentioned solution will be implemented
in two farms in South Azraq. One farm is owned by a male farmer, and the other
one is owned by a female farmer. This pilot in the two farms will be as a
demonstration for other farmers in the region during and at the end of the
project.
Capacity Building Program
Transfer MIRRA’s know-how and technical ability
to RFS to enable it to carry on with community development in the future and to
enable it to enlarge the scope of activities and to reach more farmers. Two
capacity programs will be implemented during the project implementation period.
Farmers' Field Days
Will target approximately 80 farmers
The objective is to enhance farmers' capacities to become better decision makers in their own farming systems and to acquire the knowledge necessary for the proposed sustainable packaged solution.
MIRRA's Sustainable Agriculture Summer School
Will target 15 youth who are graduates in the fields related to irrigation, agriculture and water to become a team specializing in sustainable rural agriculture
The programme will include 4 modules: Advocacy and Training of Trainers, Innovative Technology for Water & Agriculture Sustainability, Climate Change Adaptation and Actions & Solutions Development for Local Challenges
Project Outputs
Apply the packaged sustainable technical and managerial
solution in two farms located in South Azraq. one farm is owned by a male
farmer and the other is owned by a female farmer.
Scientific research will be conducted. Data collection will be
done on regular basis. The research will be conducted to prove the feasibility
of the proposed packaged solution.
•Policy paper will be submitted to the relevant
stakeholders.
•Manual on how to apply the proposed packaged solution
will be given to farmers.
Project Partners
Methods for
Irrigation and Agriculture (MIRRA)
Research and development organization that poses the technical ability
and know-how to tackle the above mentioned challenges
High Atlas Foundation (HAF)
Financial
Support to community-led initiatives
Rural Family
Society (RFS)
Community born and enjoys
strong roots and connections in the targeted region.