Each of these evaluations engaged farmers directly and provided the basis for optimizing their farm systems based on their unique needs and obstacles. MIRRA cooperated with local suppliers, agricultural experts, and universities to co-develop solutions to each farmer’s needs. The process of optimization improved farmers’ ability to maintain and operate critical infrastructure for achieving water-savings thereby advancing the first output of this project: to enhance the quality of irrigation systems in installation, operation, and maintenance. However, the project was unable to achieve the initially proposed number of farm visits due to suppliers’ lack of commitment to the project’s goals. Some suppliers delayed the process of obtaining necessary information and documentation, or they showed no interest in following up on the audit and evaluation process. While this affected MIRRA’s ability to fully achieve its initially planned output, it did achieve important strides in optimizing the farms it targeted. Three types of optimizations were observed in the evaluated farms: changing the emission devices from high discharge to lower discharge, renewing the laterals and emitters, or replacing the non-pressure compensating emitters with pressure compensating emitters. During the project, 58% of farm optimization was achieved through renewing the same irrigation system. 

MIRRA’s experienced team of irrigation engineers taught students all of the components involved within a drip irrigation system: the design of irrigation networks, filtration, fertigation, as well as scientific knowledge about water hydraulics, soil, climate, and other relevant factors that impact the performance of drip irrigation systems. Such knowledge equips students with the knowledge and experience to work with modern agriculture methods and be equipped with the skills needed to improve Jordan’s agriculture sector.

Project Efficiency 

This project used resources efficiently in two primary ways. First, by optimizing existing systems, MIRRA was able to achieve water-savings without the need for intensive capital investment to improve or replace irrigation equipment. By first addressing the gaps in existing irrigation systems, MIRRA could simultaneously build the capacity of farmers on important irrigation and agriculture concepts using systems they are familiar with. This ensures that the changes made while optimizing their system are understood by the farmers, and therefore, they can maintain these optimizations into the future for continued water-savings beyond the span of this project. Second, direct engagement with farmers and suppliers allowed project staff to clearly diagnose issues within each farmer’s operations and to suggest improvements. Direct engagement led to a clear understanding between farmer and MIRRA staff to implement efficient changes.

Project Impact 

This project achieved notable impacts on the lives of farmer and students. The first output achieved important advances in the infrastructure of 17 farms. Each farm received specialized consultation from MIRRA staff to monitor their farm’s specifications and propose solutions based on the farms challenges. One farmer experienced persistent clogging in his drip emitters due to a poor filtration system that demanded time and labor. Upon close inspection, it was discovered that high quantities of iron and sulphate were the cause of the emitters clogging. MIRRA provided customized filtration unit that continues to serve the farmer’s needs resulting in time and labor saved.

Another farmer changed his emitter types from viro-jets (micro-irrigation) to pressure compensating (PC) online emitters with a flow rate of 20 liters per hour. The PC emitters’ flow rate is less than that of the viro-jets and allows for more precise irrigation which contributes to significant water and energy savings on the farm. Before switching to PC emitters, the farmer used to operate his irrigation pump from the entire month in order to fully irrigate his field. After the optimization process with MIRRA, he only operates his pump one week per month saying that “I noticed a difference in the energy consumption. I used to operate the pump every day, now at least I can turn off the pump 6 days a month.” Several farmers reported similar findings with energy costs decreasing by 30-50% by switching from viro-jets to PC emitters. Another farmer reported water savings of 30% under the optimized system.

The impact of the on-farm optimization process extended beyond water and energy savings. One farmer invested the cumulative savings of time, labor, water, and energy gained under this project to build a hydroponic system on his farm. Without facing the burden of water shortage, this farmer is capable of reinvesting into his own farm to further realize water and energy savings from new techniques, such as hydroponics, and he plans on building more hydroponic systems on his farm.

The apprenticeship program trained six agricultural engineering students in modern irrigation methods. Students received training in six different modules covering topics such as hydraulics, crop evapotranspiration, designing drip irrigation networks, the soil-water relationship, irrigation scheduling, and evaluation methods of drip irrigation such as uniformity and efficiency. MIRRA combined practical training with theoretical training for a deep understanding of the components and considerations of designing, operating, and maintaining a drip irrigation system.