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IRRIGATION WATER
POLICY
Background
The Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan has been facing a chronic imbalance in the population -
water resources equation, which imbalance is manifested by a substantial in
deficit in the foreign trade in food commodities ($110 per capita in 1997),
and by rationing of municipal water that is serviced to the population twice
a week. The total renewable freshwater resources of the country amount to an
average of 750 MCM per year/ . The
population in 1997 was around 4.4 million people, growing at an annual rate
of 3.6%. The per capita share was 160 cubic meter per annum in 1997 and
declines at a rate equal to that of the population increase .
The
production of food in semi-arid countries like Jordan
is hardly possible without irrigation. The irrigated areas are located in
the Jordan Valley (some 33,000
hectares), and in the Plateau (some 44,100 hectares). Some 400,000 hectares
are fit for dry land farming, but it is practiced on half of this potential
because of the insecurity associated with erratic rainfall and other
reasons. Irrigated agriculture, however, provides most of the agricultural
production in the Kingdom and offers the higher percentage of agricultural
jobs and other jobs in support services.
Because of
the huge imbalance in the population - water resources equation, the treated
wastewater effluent is added to the water stock for use in irrigated
agriculture. It will constitute a substantial percentage of the irrigation
water in future years.
Development of Irrigated Agriculture
Irrigated
agriculture has been practiced in the Jordan Valley since the dawn of
civilization. there Archaeological remains tell of the construction of
water storage facilities and irrigation networks by the Nabateans before the
Christian era in the Jordan Rift Valley and elsewhere. Irrigation was
developed in the Rift Valley by channeling the uncontrolled perennial flow
of side wades and rivers through well-developed water conveyance systems and
irrigation techniques.
Formal
development and a rebirth of irrigated agriculture in Jordan started in the
early 1950s in the Zarqa Triangle with irrigation from the uncontrolled flow
of the Zarqa River. The Deir Alia agricultural
experimental station was established at that time. The more serious effort
was planned in 1954 - 1955, and implementation commenced with grant
assistance from the United States towards the East Ghor Canal Project,
renamed in 1986 as the King Abdallah Canal Project. The Project was
implemented between 1959 and 1966 with USAID grant funds, and between 1968 -
1970 with support from the Kuwait Fund, between 1975 and 1980 with loan
funds from USAID, IDA and KFW, and
between 1983 and 1988 with loan funds from KFW, and, south of the Dead Sea
with loan funds from the Kuwait Fund, the Saudi Fund and the Government of
Italy. The older parts of the project were upgraded by conversion of surface
canal networks to pressure pipe distribution networks between 1986 and 1996
with loan funds from the Arab Fund and the Government of Japan.
Five storage
dams have been built in the process; they serve as important feeders to the
King Abdallah Canal. The Canal itself was
rehabilitated between 1994 and 1998 with funds from the EIB.
The total
area thus developed in the Jordan Valley, under the responsibility and
supervision of successive Government agencies, is about 33,000 hectares.
About 8,000 more hectares of arable lands remain to be irrigated north of
the Dead Sea, and some 2,000 hectares
south of the Dead Sea.
A potential exists for irrigated agriculture in Wadi Araba with groundwater
sources and surface water sources.
More
development has taken place on the plateau using groundwater sources. The
private sector was behind all that development, with the exception of small
and scattered irrigation projects supervised by Government agencies in the
1960s. The total area thus irrigated amounts to about 44,100 hectares.
The Policy
Objective
The
following policy statements detail the long-term objectives outlined in the
Water Strategy. It is to be noted that this policy addresses the irrigation
water and does not extend to the issues of irrigated agriculture. It
addresses in more detail water-related issues of resource development:
agricultural use, resource management, the imperative of technology
transfer, water quality, efficiency, cost recovery, management and other
issues. Linkages with energy and the environment are accorded a separate
chapter. This policy is compatible with the Water Strategy and is in
conformity with its long-term objectives. Most of the provisions of this
policy are being exercised, and some others are needed to maximize the
benefit from irrigation water, and improve the social returns from its uses.
While the
policy is national, its implementation is vested in the respective
Government agencies as stipulated by applicable laws. Of particular
importance is the role of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the
Ministry of Agriculture.
On the Role of Irrigated Agriculture:
1.
Irrigated agriculture is a trade of Jordanian ancestry practiced in the
Jordan Rift Valley and on its escarpment. Archaeological irrigation networks
and facilities are standing evidence. Irrigated agriculture contributes to
the production of food, and provides job opportunities in direct and
indirect agricultural employment and supporting services. It also enhances
the environment and helps arrest desertification.
On Sustainability of Irrigated Agriculture
:
2.
Existing areas of irrigated agriculture shall be accorded the chances for
sustainability. No diversion of its waters to other uses shall be allowed
without providing a replacement source fit for agricultural use unrestricted
by health and public health considerations, and unduly hampered by chemical
constraints.
3.
Sustainability of agriculture shall be compromised only if it threatens the
sustainability of use of ground water resources. Potential pollution of
underlying aquifers or the depletion thereof are among the reasons that can
prompt such compromise.
4.
Irrigation water sources shall be protected against pollution which degrades
water quality, is hazardous to the environmental integrity of soils, or can
endanger animal health, particularly livestock. In this regard the adoption
of biological control methods shall be promoted in lieu of the use of
pesticides. Where desalination of brackish water is practiced, particular
attention will be paid to the disposal of brine especially when such
practice is done within the catchments area of dams.
5.
Close coordination shall be maintained with the Ministry of Agriculture and
its research and development arm and with other related institutions with
the aim of enhancing on-farm irrigation efficiencies and maximizing the
agricultural output of a unit of land area per unit flow of irrigation
water.
6.
Surplus surface water during the wet season shall be provided to farmers
through the irrigation networks free of charge to leach soils especially
those farms that are irrigated with treated wastewater in the dry season.
7.
Drainage networks shall be installed in irrigated areas where natural
drainage is not sufficient to serve the purpose. Disposal of drainage water
shall be made in an environmentally friendly manner. Maintenance of such
networks shall be accorded attention similar to that paid to the maintenance
of irrigation networks.
On Resource Development and Use
8.
For irrigation purposes, and in light of the tight water situation,
wastewater is considered a resource and can not be treated as "waste." It
shall be collected and treated to standards that allow its reuse in
irrigation unrestricted by health and public health considerations or unduly
constrained by high salinity contents.
9.
In remote sparsely populated areas, and after satisfying the local municipal
and industrial needs from unallocated water resources, water resources shall
be allocated to agricultural production including livestock. Such
development shall be planned and implemented in an integrated social and
economic fashion in order that communities can be formed, settled and
developed.
10.
Maximum use shall be made of rainfall for crop production, and supplementary
irrigation shall be employed to maximize production including increasing
cropping intensities.
11.
The use of brackish water in irrigation shall be pursued with care. Soil
salinity resulting there from shall be monitored and its buildup managed and
mitigated. Land shall be managed with the attention it deserves as a
non-renewable resource.
12.
A revolving development plan for water resources, including irrigation
resources, shall be adopted. The use of modern techniques made available by
software development will be employed for the purpose.
On Technology Transfer and Adaptation
13.
Despite the high percentage of agricultural water uses, the quantities used
fall short of the needs. Higher agricultural yields shall be targeted and
the transfer of advanced technology shall be endorsed and encouraged. The
transformation of traditional irrigation and farming practices into modern
methods shall be endorsed and promoted.
14.
Such advanced methods as drip irrigation, spray irrigation, micro-sprinkler
irrigation are favored over less efficient methods. Local manufacturing of
these equipment will be encouraged.
15.
Irrigation water conveyance and distribution shall be made through the
installation of pressure pipe networks. Maximum use shall be made of
gravity generated pressures to operate these systems.
16.
Operation of the irrigation network will be improved to have the water
filling the network for 24 hours. Such operation will enhance the benefits
that accrue from drip irrigation. While in a rotation system the drip
irrigation pipes act as on-farm conveyor, 24-hour operation has the
advantage of operating the drippers as designed.
17.
Plant varieties developed as a result of genetic engineering research shall
be favored for introduction into
Jordan's markets. Maximizing resistance to pests, salinity and adverse
conditions are features that are needed. Additionally, the maximization of
crop yields is another beneficial feature of such varieties.
18.
Leasing of Government lands with permits to use water resources not
earmarked for higher priority uses, especially in remote areas, shall be
encouraged with the view of introducing advanced agricultural practices.
Cooperation with advanced countries through technical co-operation shall be
sought and promoted to advance technology transfer and adaptation.
On-Farm Water Management
19.
Crop water requirements in the various micro-climatic zones of the country
shall be experimentally determined, taking into consideration the prevailing
different water qualities.
20.
Farmers shall be encouraged to monitor soil moisture on their farms to
determine the timing for irrigation water application. The rate and duration
of the application shall be adjusted to match the crop water requirements.
21.
In as much as is practical, investments on the farm to provide overnight
water storage facilities shall be discouraged through providing a continuous
supply of irrigation water in the distribution networks.
22.
Along with water management, farmers should be able to manage such other
agricultural inputs as chemical fertilizers with the irrigation water.
23.
Night application of irrigation water, especially in the dry season, shall
be encouraged to reduce evaporation losses.
24.
Automation of on-farm irrigation networks and their operation will be
encouraged and training of farmers on advanced water management techniques
shall be sought by cooperating with the research and extension service of
the Ministry of Agriculture. Cooperation with other countries in this regard
and in technology transfer in general shall be pursued.
25.
Programs shall be prepared to raise the public and farmers awareness of the
availability of reused water, its rational and economic use and on the
impacts of its quality.
On Irrigation Water Quality
26.
Irrigation water quality shall be monitored through sampling at the sources
and from the conveyance and distribution network. Farmers shall be alerted
to any degradation of water quality. This is important so that they can plan
the use of such water for the suitable farming purposes.
27.
Where marginal quality water, such as treated wastewater effluent, is a
source of irrigation water, care should be taken, to the maximum extent
possible, to have the quality improved to standards that allow its use for
unrestricted irrigation. This can be achieved through blending with fresher
water sources.
28.
The same applies to the potential use of drainage water or brackish water
sources. However, farmers should be appraised of the potential quality of
irrigation water so that their choice of crops is made with the necessary
background information and knowledge.
29.
Soil salinity and water chemical contents are also constraining factors.
Where its salinity is combined with water salinity, the environment of the
root zone can cause high stress. Care shall be taken in providing testing
services to farmers, and in promoting extension service in such zones where
soil salinity and irrigation water salinity produce hostile roots
environments.
On Management and Administration
30.
Government agencies have been responsible for the development of water
resources in the Jordan
Valley and for the construction of the irrigation network. The Jordan Valley
Authority (JVA) is the legal successor of these agencies and has been in
operation since May 1977. It is the agency amongst them that has lived
longest. The JVA is, as the predecessor agencies had been, responsible for
the operation and maintenance of irrigation facilities, from the source
(dams, rivers, springs) to the destination (farm gate).
31.
Piped irrigation networks shall be the standard method of irrigation
conveyance and distribution. Where possible, gravity pressure shall provide
the heads in the distribution networks. Supplementary pumping shall be used
where needed.
32.
Irrigation water shall be metered at the farm turn-out. Digital meters shall
be installed at each farm unit for volumetric measurement of in-flowing
water.
33.
Government shall gradually phase-out of the business of irrigation water
distribution, as is feasible, as soon as possible.
34.
Pilot irrigation areas shall be designated to test the workability of
Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM), where farmers will assume the
responsibility of water delivery to their farms. When found successful, PIM
will be extended to the Jordan Valley irrigation systems.
35.
Development of water resources, including groundwater, outside the Jordan Valley has been the responsibility of
the Water Authority, WAJ which since 1983 has been the successor, among
others, of the Natural Resources Authority. Private farmers are allowed, by
license and abstraction permit from WAJ, to exploit groundwater for all
purposes, including irrigated agriculture. These private farmers operate
their irrigation systems, and have introduced advanced irrigation techniques
to their operations.
36.
Abstraction from all groundwater wells shall be metered, and monitoring of
abstraction shall be made periodically to assure conformity with the
provisions of the abstraction permits.
On Public Awareness
37.
Public awareness campaigns shall be waged to urge the public to protect
water resources against pollution, and to bring home the economic and social
value of a unit flow of water.
38.
The cost of irrigation water development shall be emphasized, and the
importance of protection of structures and utilities against vandalism shall
be advocated.
On Water Pricing
39.
Irrigation water shall be managed as an economic commodity that has an
immense social value. Like other water resources, irrigation water is a
national commodity owned by society at large without prejudice to existing
water rights.
40.
Agriculture provides service to society in the form of employment,
population distribution, provision of food that would otherwise have to be
imported, and enhancing the environment. It is for this reason that
agriculture enjoys support from society in the form of tax exemptions and
subsidies.
41.
The water price shall at least cover the cost of operation and maintenance,
and, subject to some other economic constraints, it should also recover part
of the capital cost of the irrigation water project. The ultimate objective
shall be full cost recovery subject to economic, social and political
constraints. Due consideration shall be made of any water rights as
established by law.
42.
Part of the capital cost shall be recovered through the application of a
one-time charge against irrigation rights. This is applied as a rate per
unit area of the irrigated farm. The size of the portion thus recovered
shall not be less that half the irrigation network development cost.
43.
Differential prices can be applied to irrigation water to account for its
quality.
On Regulation and Controls
44.
Planting of crops with high water requirements shall be discouraged. Market
forces shall be applied to discourage such plantations.
45.
Planting of perennial crops shall be allowed only with permits until such
time as the water balance and the operation system show no signs of water
stress in any of the dry months.
46.
Cooperation with other countries, regional and world wide, shall be promoted
to enhance the marketing potential of Jordanian agricultural commodities and
the products of its agro-industries.
On Irrigation Efficiency
47.
Maximum overall irrigation efficiency shall be a standing target. Government
agencies in charge of operation and maintenance shall endeavor to approach
this target and maintain it.
48.
Automation of irrigation networks shall be pursued, and electronic
surveillance and monitoring of irrigation networks shall be employed to
reduce losses through leakage and breaks.
49.
Preventive maintenance of pumps, motors and valves shall be programmed and
conducted periodically. Human resources for proper management of maintenance
shall be secured to the maximum extent possible.
50.
On-farm automation, although the responsibility of farmers, shall be
promoted through extension service and demonstration farms.
51.
Programs for manpower training to perform duties of irrigation operations,
forecasts and scheduling of irrigation service shall be a standing
objective.
On Linkages with Energy and the
Environment
52.
The use of herbicides that are environmentally friendly shall be encouraged.
The savings in evapo-transpiration by unwanted plants is a positive outcome.
Similar advantage is gained through the savings in plant nutrition that
otherwise will be absorbed by unwanted vegetation.
53.
Serious care shall be taken in choosing the technology of wastewater
treatment. The treated effluent, considered part of the irrigation water
stock, shall be maintained as an environmentally accepted resource that can
be safely handled by agricultural labor. It shall not be harmful to wild
life or to domesticated animals on the farms.
54.
A trade-off shall be made between capital investment, energy requirements
for operation, and the losses that will otherwise be incurred in the
irrigation water resource. Choice of the optimal configuration shall be
based on a thorough analysis of these factors.
55.
Maximum use shall be made of the gravity head inherent in the irrigation
water sources of the Jordan Rift Valley. Supplementary head shall be
generated through pumping interventions to maintain a suitable pressure head
at the farm gate.
On Legislation and Institutional
Arrangements
56.
Legislation and institutional arrangements for the development and
management of irrigation water resources shall be periodically reviewed.
Gaps shall be filled, and updating of institutional arrangements with
parallel legislation shall be made periodically.
57.
The role of government shall be fine-tuned and its involvement reduced over
time to regulation and supervision. Involvement of stakeholders and the
private sector in irrigation management and support will be introduced and
expanded.
58.
The role of the private sector in the development of irrigated agriculture
shall be promoted. Care will be taken to monitor and supervise the use of
water resources in that regard.
On Shared Water Resources
59.
Shared water resources occur in the
Jordan River basin and in ground water resources to
the south, east and north, and that are either used for irrigation or are
mixed with irrigation water of the Jordan Valley. Priority shall be given to
the development and management of shared water resources.
60.
The quality and flow rates of water obtained by Jordan shall always be monitored and proper
records kept of such data.
61.
The establishment of Joint Water committees to co-operate with neighboring
countries over issues affecting other riparians shall be promoted.
62.
Regional cooperation will be proposed, promoted and sustained with the
neighboring countries with whom
Jordan shares international waters.
On Research and Development
63.
Applied research on water topics will be adopted and promoted. Such topics
as water economics, resource management, crop water requirement, use of
brackish water, irrigation technologies, farming practices, crop yields,
moisture storage and the like are among favored topics.
64.
Cooperation with specialized centers in the country and outside will be
promoted, and raising of funds for this purpose will be supported.
65.
Technology transfer and adaptation to local conditions will be a primary
target for development activities and for adaptive research.
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