Water distribution to be regulated in Jordan Valley

"The agreement seeks to reduce water loss, as well as curb violations and theft of water in the Jordan Valley," he told The Jordan Times yesterday.

 

Jamaani said the authority will gradually delegate the task of distributing water to the societies, noting that the JVA.

"The authority encourages farmers to join these societies to raise their awareness on best irrigation practices and help distribute water shares fairly," the official said.

 

Noting that the ministry consults with farmers' societies when it draws up water strategies, he added that these societies, in cooperation with the ministry, also advise farmers on the kinds of crops that use less water but are economically feasible at the same time.

 

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation announced earlier this week that Jordan Valley farmers who use artesian wells for irrigation would be allowed to dig saline underground wells.

 

According to the 2007 agricultural census, around 64.3 per cent of land planted with irrigated crops uses water from artesian wells and 19.7 per cent from the King Abdullah Canal.

 

The Jordan Valley's total agricultural area consists of 250,000 dunums ( a dunum =1000 m2), 170,000 of which are planted with vegetables and the rest with bananas, grain and citrus fruits.