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Analysis of the agricultural situation in Azraq Basin
German-Jordanian Programme “Management of Water Resources”
wells), and
- 36 in Azraq (out of 481 working
private agricultural wells).
The farms were randomly chosen on
the field in order to cover the whole
basin geographically and to reflect
the diversity of farming systems
by choosing a sample that is
representative of all the categories
of farms (taking into consideration
multiple criteria such as area, soil,
type of irrigation network, age of
the farm, crops…).
The survey consisted of interviews
with farms’ managers or farm
owners in 59 farms all over the
Azraq basin (in Azraq, North Badia
and Jiza areas). A questionnaire 2
was developed and used to discuss
with farmers the main topics related
to farm description and management.
The survey was conducted by two
experts, one specialised in water
management in Jordan, and the
other with a vast experience of Azraq
region and the specificities and
evolution of its agriculture. The total
area covered by the survey with the
59 farms visited is 16727 dunums 3
(14775 du of cultivated area).
The questionnaire covered the
following items:
1. General information: identity,
farm status, agricultural activities
(crops, production level), nonagricultural
activities.
2. Production system: land tenure
and history, water and irrigation,
agricultural techniques and inputs,
work resource, equipments.
3. Environment and farmer’s
perception of the water problem.
4. Strategies, trends and future
perspectives.
Field data was analysed resulting
in the following:
- Farm classification according
to structural information and
description. The stratification is
based on characterisation of the
environment (soil, climate, water
resource..) and of farms (area
crossed with product categories).
- Farm typology with a focus
on irrigation, based on the
management of the farms, and the
role of agriculture in the socioeconomic
context. It highlights
the main objectives for the farms
category, the strategies developed
(related to assets and constraints),
and the adopted management rules
(planning and decision rules).
Assumptions:
Efficiency of different irrigation systems 4 :
Efficiency current system
Surface irrigation
55%
Open tube
65%
Virojet
60%
Dripper (GR)
70%
2 Cf. Annex 1.
3 10 dunums = 1 hectare.
4 IOJoV project feasibility study, MREA, 2006.
Basalt
Efficiency optimised system
-
70%
85%
90%
B4