The Social Dimension of Water Deficit: Case Study – East Jordan ‎Valley

The Social Dimension of Water Deficit: Case Study – East Jordan ‎Valley

Naseem Barham, Ali Anbar

nbarham@go.co.jo

Received : 28-02-2005 , Accepted : 16-07-2005

Language: Arabic

Abstract

Jordan suffers a continuous water Deficit due to its climate features, since 90% of the its total area (90.000 km2) lies within either arid or semi-arid climate and receives less than 200 mm rain per anum. Therefore, surface and ground water resources are limited. Water shortage escalated further due to high increase of population, high rate of urbanization and development of the economic sectors such as agriculture, industry …etc. Most solutions of the water problem were redirected to the supply side. This study focuses on the social dimension of water shortage in the Jordan Valley. In order to determine the farmers’ adaptivity of water shortage, and to evaluate the role of the Jordan Valley Authority regarding this issue, a stratified, systematic random sample of 171 farmers has been chosen from 12 villages at the southern Jordan Valley. The study has concluded that vast majority of the farmers (96%) consider water deficit as a severe problem, while 54% of them consider water quality a problem of similar importance. Farmers have used nine methods to overcome water shortage; most important are: cutting down cultivated area, changing crop pattern and irrigation techniques. While the Jordan valley Authority faces the problem through: prohibiting summer cultivation, shortening irrigation period and renting farmers lands and leave it fallow.

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