The Challenge In Azraq

Azraq lies to the east of Jordan in an arid portion of the country but also boasts local agriculture and fertile soil that makes use of limited surface and groundwater resources. However, over the past several decades of intensive agriculture, the groundwater table of Azraq region is quickly declining which places great stress on agriculture productivity and profitability for the local community. Farmers have begun to abandon their farming operations in the face of harsher climate conditions and rising costs of agriculture production. The highlands face only 60mm of average annual rainfall, a declining groundwater table, and unsustainable exploitation of diminishing groundwater resources to supply current agricultural activities. The fast rate of groundwater consumption not only depletes groundwater aquifers but also increases the salinity of the remaining water, and by extension, the salinity of the soil once this water is extracted and applied in irrigation. This region of Jordan faces considerable limitations on financing and investment which limits the community’s options for creating sustainable, resilience methods of agriculture. The purpose of this project is to remedy this challenge by introducing agroecology practices to farmers to improve the soil health, the soil’s water retention, and advance water conservation practices.