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Analysis of the agricultural situation in Azraq Basin
German-Jordanian Programme “Management of Water Resources”
5.4. Evolution trends for
farms and irrigation in the
current context
Market factors, climatic factors
and water availability have a
direct impact on strategic planning
for farms (when there is one)
and on farming practices, so
some evolution trends for farms
sustainability and irrigation can
be expected in the near future.
In Azraq, many farmers are
converting to alfalfa at a worrying
pace, which could threaten
even more the water resource
in Azraq if no measure is taken
rapidly. We remind here that
alfalfa growing using irrigation
systems such as sprinklers and
central pivot which typically
have high water consumption.
Most farmers from the small
olive tree farms have financial
difficulties as there is very low or
no profit at all, which is not enough
to sustain their families. Some are
deeply indebted, they would accept
to sell their lands and wells if they
get an interesting offer, but have
no other alternative than continue
farming at the time being. On the
long term, these families would
not have any regular income if they
leave the farm, as it is their only
source of income, and might depend
in the future only on governmental
support, or even migrate to the
cities (Amman, Irbid) to find a job.
Other farms like the professional
olive tree farms are not quite
profitable and are even sometimes
in deficit, but are still planning to
continue farming since they do not
want to lose the investment they
made on the farm and think that
the market could be more attractive
a few years later. However, even
if they do not mention it clearly,
they might be interested in selling
their land and well if there is an
opportunity, as the income from
the farm is not essential for them.
In North Badia and Jiza, farmers
are more reactive. There is a
wide spread trend to switch from
vegetables to stone fruits, since
the market is risky for vegetables.
Some investors who did not come
from farming backgrounds tried
vegetable farming and abandoned
it after just a year because they
were not successful. Another trend
that could appear next year is
the start of greenhouses in North
Badia and their expansion in Jiza.
As entrepreneurs of stone fruit
tree farms are successful, these
entrepreneurs tend to increase
their orchards, some by adopting
more water efficient techniques
and more intensive plantations.