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26<br />

Analysis of <strong>the</strong> agricultural situation <strong>in</strong> Azraq Bas<strong>in</strong><br />

German-Jordanian Programme “Management of Water Resources”<br />

Average efficiency of irrigation is<br />

estimated to reach 63% <strong>in</strong> Azraq<br />

area 38 .<br />

The development of localised<br />

irrigation systems started <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

1980s and early 1990s when modern<br />

irrigation was <strong>in</strong>troduced, start<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jordan Valley and <strong>the</strong>n<br />

transferred to <strong>the</strong> Highlands dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>the</strong> “Super Green Revolution” 39 .<br />

“The Super Green Revolution” is a<br />

term developed by El Musa (1994)<br />

to describe <strong>the</strong> fast growth of<br />

agricultural sector based on <strong>the</strong><br />

adoption of <strong>in</strong>novations such as<br />

localised irrigation systems <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

1980s. Modern irrigation was <strong>in</strong>deed<br />

quickly adopted <strong>in</strong> vegetables and<br />

stone fruit trees farms, but many<br />

olive orchards rema<strong>in</strong>ed with<br />

surface irrigation until 2004, when<br />

<strong>the</strong> motive for switch<strong>in</strong>g to localised<br />

irrigation was triggered by WAJ<br />

distribut<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> first water bills.<br />

Irrigation systems <strong>in</strong> Azraq Bas<strong>in</strong><br />

% of total irrigated area surveyed<br />

4%<br />

8%<br />

43%<br />

3%<br />

Virojet<br />

Spr<strong>in</strong>kler<br />

GR<br />

39%<br />

3%<br />

Open Tube<br />

Surface<br />

Pivot<br />

3290<br />

65%<br />

1850<br />

56%<br />

420<br />

6%<br />

496<br />

8%<br />

1327<br />

20%<br />

1750<br />

35%<br />

1452<br />

44%<br />

2675<br />

41%<br />

430<br />

7%<br />

North<br />

Badia<br />

(du)<br />

Jiza<br />

area<br />

(du)<br />

Azraq<br />

area<br />

(du)<br />

Figure 8. Repartition of irrigation systems <strong>in</strong> Azraq Bas<strong>in</strong> accord<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

<strong>the</strong> data collected <strong>in</strong> 59 field surveys.<br />

Despite widespread use of localised<br />

irrigation, most farmers do not use<br />

<strong>the</strong> full potential of <strong>the</strong>ir modern<br />

irrigation techniques (with <strong>the</strong><br />

exception of <strong>the</strong> stone fruits farms<br />

with high technology <strong>in</strong> North Badia).<br />

Efficiency of irrigation networks<br />

is not maximal; as design is not<br />

optimal (efficiency of irrigation<br />

application is very low). In addition,<br />

knowledge of workers on <strong>the</strong> farms<br />

about irrigation is limited: pressure<br />

and flow, as well as irrigation<br />

uniformity, are notions that are not<br />

mastered. Irrigation is monitored<br />

by eye (full bas<strong>in</strong> under <strong>the</strong> tree,<br />

colour of <strong>the</strong> soil when it is wet...).<br />

Filtration systems are often <strong>in</strong> bad<br />

conditions (rusted screens filters),<br />

when not absent. For small farms,<br />

irrigation material is of poor quality,<br />

as <strong>the</strong>y cannot afford buy<strong>in</strong>g high<br />

quality brands. There is <strong>in</strong>deed no<br />

agricultural extension, and farmers<br />

are will<strong>in</strong>g to be better <strong>in</strong>formed<br />

about good irrigation practices and<br />

conservation methods.<br />

The choice of irrigation system is<br />

more <strong>the</strong> result of <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>fluence of<br />

<strong>the</strong> neighbour<strong>in</strong>g farmers than <strong>the</strong><br />

result of an educated choice.<br />

Figure 9. Olive tree irrigated with Open Tube:<br />

water application with this management is<br />

similar to surface irrigation.<br />

38 Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> percentage of <strong>the</strong> different irrigation systems and <strong>the</strong> assumed irrigation efficiency for each,<br />

as <strong>in</strong>dicated p.4.<br />

39 El Musa, 1994.

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