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.
The progress reports
Click here to read: Progress report #1 covering the period 9 Apr 2019 – 9 July 2019.
Click here to read:Press Release Article