3.4.1 Background

Most of the available arable land in the region comprising the participating countries Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestine Authority is arid and / or semi-arid dryland area ( 80-90%). Lack of available water resources is the most critical issue affecting agricultural production and productivity. Thus, the output per unit of water rather than of land is the determining factor for the direction of development of an economically viable agricultural sector. The challenge for the region is therefore the optimisation of water use, of which 75%-88% is consumed by the agricultural sector. In Jordan annual withdrawal rates exceed already to-date annual renewable water resources, while in all other countries available renewable water resources are (almost) fully exploited.

Table 1 – Estimated water availability and usage in the region

Source: Middle East – Denmark Agricultural Research Co-operation

Agricultural water usage differs significantly between the countries. Irrigated agriculture is common in Egypt where 98% of cultivated land is irrigated, against 38% in Israel, and 10% in Jordan and the Palestine Authority area respectively. Subsequently, 90% of agriculture in Jordan and P.A. is thus rainfed having to rely on lacking water resources and irregular and low rainfall. Decreasing water resources are incompatible with increasing agricultural productivity through the expansion of the area under irrigation. Soil conservation, water harvesting and adaptation of appropriate crop production systems are the components that have to be addressed optimising agricultural output under dryland farming conditions.

Table 2 – Rainfed and irrigated agriculture in the region

Source: Middle East – Denmark Agricultural Research Co-operation

Population and water demand projections suggest that available water resources will be short of future supplies, the increasing demand for domestic and industrial use on account of the agricultural sector. In addition to the water shortage and the irregular and low rainfalls, overgrazing, soil erosion, the low productivity of soils and inadequate knowledge and skills are other contributing factors critical to rainfed agriculture in dryland areas.

The optimisation of water usage refers both to the improved use of available water resources and on the other hand on the implementation of alternative and integrated methods such as the application of water harvesting techniques, the reuse of treated waste and drainage water, the introduction of new and non-conventional crop production systems, the introduction of crops resistant to the abundant saline water resources and tolerant to drought, different forms of soil protection and management of the land avoiding soil erosion and able to produce a sustainable silvoagropastoral system.

In Egypt dryland agriculture dates back to the Roman time during which the area of the North West coast was considered an area of wheat production for the Roman Empire. Optimal water and crop management has become an essential pre-requisite for sustainable development, especially under the harsh environmental conditions prevailing in such an area. Problems of erratic rainfall, of high temperature, wind as well as soils are reflected on average yields obtained from crops cultivated. Small ruminants figure dominantly in the agricultural production of the area where exporting small ruminants is a major objective for animal production. In case of water shortage ruminant flocks will in larger numbers have to move to water and feed resources.

Bedouins have demonstrated well developed systems of water harvesting for drinking water, animal needs and fruit and vegetable cultivation. Some of these water harvesting systems are from the Roman time.

Agricultural production could be improved by applying the suitable adapted technologies and techniques achieved through the research activities in this area. Barley production could be increased by 3-5 times, while olives and figs production could be increased by 2-3 times of presently achieved production levels.

In order to achieve a sustainable development in the area the government is giving considerable attention to the specific needs of the Bedouin societies in addition to the contributions from the international society through the World Food Programme and the World Bank.

Improved training and extension activities are badly needed to disseminate and transfer the adopted suitable technologies, techniques and models either form local or regional experiences to optimise the agricultural production under the rainfed environment in this area.

Agriculture in Israel in terms of contribution to total economic output represents only a very limited share ( 2.4% of total GDP). Public investments in the agricultural sector have been diminishing and water management is therefore mainly directed towards a) afforestation, grazing and recreational areas, b) dams and reservoir construction to catch floods and marginal water ( over 150 reservoirs have been constructed) and c) tillage methods aiming at the absorption of rainfall in situ, where it falls.

Helpful and significant in this respect is among others the assessment and collection of rain data. The close co-operation between research and practice resulted in the development of models that can be usefully implemented in the Middle East region. The regional approach towards the establishment of a data base as a result of the regional co-operation is considered to be of key importance for watershed management, engineering, flood control, as well as soil and water conservation.

Jordan ’s total land area is about 90.000sqkm, of which 90% receive on average less than 200 mm of annual rainfall. The area that receives more than 200 mm of rainfall includes also the main population centres, infrastructure and steep slopes further reducing the available land for cultivation. Agricultural development have concentrated on the highland rainfed areas, the irrigated area of the Jordan Valley and the highland. The water extraction rate equals and/or even exceeds renewable fresh water resources. With population growth rates of 3,6% and continuous immigration the optimal use of water and land is imperative.

Only arid and semi-arid land ( rainfall below 200 mm) offers demanding potential for development. Nearly all of the water that this area receives is lost through evaporation and which subsequently could be converted through productive evapo-transpiration in plant production. Non-conventional water resources have thus to supplement other conventional and erratic resources. Desalination and water imports are used and possible options, however, the accelerated implementation of various water harvesting techniques must considered especially important. Indigenous and well functioning systems have already been found some 4000 years ago.

Several programmes for soil and moisture conservation and water harvesting have been initiated in order to encourage Jordanian farmers to increase production and adopt stable land use systems These initiatives have been introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture and some other international agencies and cover the Jordan Highland Development Project, the Zarqa River Basin Project, the Balama Project and the Muwaggar Project.

Programmes on the use of GIS and remote sensing techniques have been introduced lately on which basis soil maps have been prepared and are available to be used for the efficient management of water resources. The National Centre for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT) and the University of Jordan have conducted several studies on the application and evaluation of water harvesting practices adapted to local conditions requiring further and continuous research, but also dissemination of already achieved results.

Only a limited number of farmers are well educated and acquainted with water harvesting methods. Soil conservation practices are used , but could be further promoted by awareness and incentives to a gradual increasing number of professional and commercially oriented farmers.

The Palestinian Authority area does not dispose of the water that is needed. Most of the grown field crops are restricted to the northern (300-400 mm of rainfall) and southern ( 250-300 mm) regions of the West Bank. Average precipitation during 1999 was even below 150 mm of rainfall.

Many problems are facing field crops growing especially in the northern region such as high temperature, khamasine winds during April /May, high evaporation and heavy soil.

A number of measures have been introduced to address the dependency on rainfed agriculture such as crop rotation systems, introduction of drought resistant varieties and cultivars provided by ICARDA responding positively to the lack of water and other stress conditions. Minimal tillage and mulching are also used to improve water use.

GIS data are available in non-governmental institutions like ARIJ (Applied Research Institute, Jerusalem). Increased co-operation between the NGO’s and the Ministry of Agriculture would substantially assist to monitor the optimisation of production systems under prevailing conditions.

3.4.2 Objectives

Within the framework of the objectives of regional co-operation and increased productivity applicable to all components of the Regional Agricultural Programme the specific objective of this component is the optimisation of a sustainable agricultural production system from available resources under dryland farming conditions.

This objective will be achieved through a joint regional approach of exchanging and assessing successful and available technologies, models and techniques applicable for dryland farming.