1. Introduction
The Jordan Valley (JV), extending over 400 km from Lake Tibaris in the north to the Gulf of Aqaba in the south, includes the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea region, the Southern Ghours, Wadi Araba and the shores of the Gulf of Aqaba. Its unique climatic conditions, its good soils and irrigation practices forms the major potential of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for the production of fruits and vegetables also tourism. During the early 1990's, Jordan Valley and Southern Ghours cultivated areas amounted to about 15% of the total cultivated area of Jordan. As for vegetables and fruits, the Jordan Valley and Southern Ghours contribute to about 70% of the total production in the Kingdom.
The northern part of the Jordan Valley that extends from the Dead Sea in the
south to the Yarmouk River in the north has the lion's share in terms of infrastructure
and development. With the exception of the Southern Ghours, the rest of the
Jordan Valley which extends from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba has no substantial
developments and infrastructures. The development of the northern part has cost
the Govt. of Jordan more than 500 million JD.
2. Physical Characteristics of the JV
2.1 Topography and Climate
The Jordan Valley consists of four different topographic zones formed as a result of major tectonic events along the valley from the Red Sea to Lake Tiberias. The topographic zones include the highlands area, the escarpment, the foothills and the rift valley.
The elevation of the highlands area along the eastern boundaries of the rift ranges between 800-1000 metres above sea level.
The escarpment covers a wide area on the east slope of the rift valley with an elevation of about sea level to 800 m. The foothills below the mountains form the escarpment. The elevation of this zone varies from about -200 to sea level.
The Rift Valley consists of the flood-plain of the Jordan River and the Jordan Valley floor. The elevation of the flood-plain ranges from -200 to -400 and consists mainly of recent river deposits.
The Jordan Valley floor covers most of the rift valley and the elevation of
the floor ranges from -200 to -350 metres.
The climate of the valley is subtropical to arid, where the annual average amount of rainfall varies between 400 mm at Lake Tiberias to about 250 mm at Wadi Yabis. In Wadi Araba area the average annual rainfall does not exceed 50 mm. The average temperature in the summer is about 40°C and the average winter temperature is about 15°C. The average winter humidity is about 65%.
The annual potential evapotranspiration rate is about 2000 mm in the northern
part of the valley and increases to more than 3000 mm in Wadi Araba area, which
exceeds the annual amount of rainfall by 60 folds.
3. Economic and Social Situation
Data describing the socio-economic environment in the Jordan Valley are scarce.
Most statistical data are aggregated for Irbid Governorate and Balqa Governorate.
The region under consideration has a population of 150.000. Table 1 below indicates
the income source and average amount for the population in the region.
Table 1 : Income source and average amount for the people of the Jordan
Valley
Average Income JD/Person |
||
| Public Sector
Private Sector Self Employed (trade) Self Employed (Agri.) Family Income Support Others |
|
|
3.1 Ownership and Management of Farms
The JVA defines farm units as 3 to 4 ha. Buying and selling of land is not
permitted in the Jordan Valley. Therefore, it is quite common to rent farm units
to form farm enterprises, which may comprise several JVA farm units.
The situation contributes to a high variation of farmers which includes absentee
landlords, owner-operators, sharecroppers and renters, managers and workers
who are preponderantly foreigners. Roughly 50% of the area is cultivated by
the owner and the balance of the area is leased.
4. Past and Current Development of the Jordan Valley
Agricultural activities are the main sources of income and employment for
the Jordan Valley (the Jordan Valley and Southern Ghours) inhabitants. The Jordanian
Govt. through the Jordan Valley Commission (which became known in 1977 as the
Jordan Valley Authority) and with the technical and financial assistance of
donor countries and international funds implemented infrastructures and irrigation
projects in the Jordan Valley.. The first project to start was in 1958 with
the construction of the Addasyeh Tunnel from the Yarmouk River for about 1 kilometre
long and a canal, King Abdullah Canal (KAC), of 70 km and extending it later
on by 8 then 18 then 14,5 km in 1989 making the total length of this canal to
be about 110 km. In 1966, the KAC irrigated 123.000 dunums, an additional 20.000
dunums in 1968, 37.000 dunums in 1978 and finally 60.000 dunums in 1988.
Dams construction started in 1967 by building the Sharhabil Bin Hassanah dam
and in 1968; Kafrein (the contract for raising Kafrein dam started in 1994)
and Shueib dams. In 1977 the construction of the largest dam in Jordan, the
King Talal Dam (KTD), was finished and raised later in 1987, to make the total
capacity of this dam to be about 86 MCM. Wadi Al Arab Dam, constructed in 1986
for a total capacity of about 20 MCM and considered as the second largest dam
in Jordan. In 1994, the construction of the Karameh Dam started and it is expected
to be completed in 1997 with a total capacity of about 55 MCM.
The costs of these projects exceeded 160 million JD for the irrigation projects
and an additional 50 million JD for the construction of the five dams. The costs
of the construction of the two additional dams, the Karameh Dam and the raising
of the Kafrein Dam are 52 and 9 million JD respectively.
There are two major water resources that are available but are as yet unused
and await development, the base flow and flood flow of Mujuib basin, with an
annual volume of 76 MCM, and the flood flow of Hasa basin, with an annual volume
of 8.2 MCM. The planned development within the integrated scheme will provide
about 55 MCM for the following uses :
- Industry 14.3 MCM
- Municipal 3.0 MCM
- Agriculture 38.0 MCM
The cost of the complete integrated scheme is estimated (1993 prices) at 200
million JD. Phases development has been recommended to spread the burden of
the construction cost.
The report on the technical, financial and economic feasibility of the integrated
development project of the Southern Ghours and Eastern shores of the Dead Sea
was finalized by October 1994. This integrated project is awaiting finance for
implementation.
5. The Water Sector
Water scarcity is the most important natural constraint on Jordan's economic
growth. Rapid increases in population and industrial development have placed
unprecedented demands on the resource. Total demand is now approaching the one
billion cubic metres per year level, which is close to the limit of total water
available. Renewable groundwater is being drawn at an unsustainable rate and
water quality is gradually deteriorating. Current demand is not met satisfactorily
and the costs of developing remaining resources are rising rapidly.
It is, therefore, imperative that optimal and sustainable patterns of water
use be established to meet the requirements of both growing population and the
agricultural and industrial needs. The growth of those sectors will be the basis
of Jordan's future economic prosperity.
5.1 Available Water Resources
The supplied amount of water in 1994 for irrigation purposes in Jordan was about 750 MCM. Of which, about 256 MCM of surface water to irrigate around 27.000 ha mainly in the Jordan
Valley. There are an additional 6.000 ha in the southern part of the Jordan
Valley which have been laid out but have not been supplied because water is
not available.
The potential irrigable lands in the Jordan Valley amount to approximately
36.000 ha, while the irrigable areas of the Southern Ghours and Wadi Araba amount
to 10.000 ha. At present, cropped irrigated areas in the uplands amount to 33.000
ha. Although the potential of irrigable lands in the highlands is great, a very
slight increase in irrigated agriculture is anticipated due to the unavailability
of water resources. The former irrigation demand projection assumes that the
Jordan Valley plans to improve water use efficiency through conversion from
surface into pressurized irrigation networks would be implemented. This will
increase the available resources by 25 MCM.
Future development of water resources for meeting the projected water demand for agriculture in Jordan will require the implementation of expensive projects for development and conveyance of water to the arable lands.
Development and restoration of new water resources in the Valley (e.g. Karameh
Dam, conversion of surface canal systems to pressurized systems, raising of
Kafrein Dam, the Integrated Development Project of Wala and Mujib, Water Projects
of the Peace Treaty, recycled waste water, small reservoirs and diversion structures,
and the development of slightly poor groundwater resources in Wadi Araba), will
make some more water available to irrigate developed irrigation areas such as
the 14.5 km extension, Middle Ghour, North Eastern Ghour and Southern Ghours
and Wadi Araba.
6. Irrigation Water Use Efficiency
The overall efficiency of water used in Jordan in 1991 was about 65 percent.
This means that 35% of the water withdrawn was lost. Efficiency of irrigation
systems in the world varies greatly. Among the highest reported is 85%. If the
Jordanian target is set to reach 75% in the next 10 years for example, a total
of about 35 MCM/year may be saved for either irrigation or other usage, of which
about 25 MCM will be available in the Jordan Valley.
The overall irrigation water use efficiency is the product of conveyance, on farm and application efficiency.
The conveyance efficiency is enhanced by improvements on the conveyance systems
and the on-farm efficiency is enhanced by improvements brought to on-farm irrigation
systems, all aiming at the reduction of the quantities of water lost during
distribution.
The application efficiency is enhanced by adequate knowledge of crop water
requirements over the growing season that depend on the local environment. Data
produced through research in other countries or in other environments can be
used as a guide to formulate the crop water requirements for the local environment.
Enhancement of this efficiency further requires a more sophisticated on-farm
water management.
Since the Jordan Valley Authority's main concern is the Conveyance systems
and efficiency, a special emphasis will be given to the Conveyance systems and
the measures taken by JVA to improve them.
6.1 Conveyance Efficiency
At present, a total amount of about 26.000 ha (3.200 ha from private wells)
is irrigated in the Jordan Valley north of the Dead Sea, and 4.850 ha in the
Southern Ghours, south of the Dead Sea, a total of 30.850 ha. Another 6.000
ha are irrigated through networks installed north of the Dead Sea, but only
winter cropping is possible from the uncontrolled flows of the Yarmouk River
on one side and wadis on the other. This latter project was partially operated
in the winter of 1990.
The networks of irrigated areas are broken down as follows :
- Surface canal network
north of Dead Sea 7,300 ha 23.66% of total
- Pressure pipe networks
north of Dead Sea 18,700 ha 60.61% of total
- Pressure pipe networks
south of Dead Sea 4,850 ha 15.73% of total
Total 30,850 ha 100.00%
It is worth underlining here that the surface canal network mentioned above
which contributes to about 24% of the total, will be commissioned to operate
under a pressure pipe network during this year.
The conveyance efficiency for the pressure pipe networks north of the Dead
Sea is impacted by the conveyance efficiency of the King Abdallah Canal itself,
and by the efficiency conveyance of the river bed of the Zarqa River in which
releases from the King Talal Dam are made. The conveyance efficiency of these
networks is about 75%. There is a total of 3,750 ha of pressure pipe networks
north of the Dead Sea where water is diverted directly into the network without
passing through the King Abdallah Canal. The conveyance efficiency of these
networks is about 90%. The on-farm irrigation efficiency in these areas is higher
in the dry months because of water shortage and is lower in the wet months.
The average efficiency is about 80%. The same average efficiencies of conveyance
and on-farm irrigation are applicable to the areas south of the Dead Sea.
The combined efficiency amounts to 55% and will improve as the remaining surface
irrigation networks are replaced and advanced on-farm irrigation systems can
be applied to more farms. An important measure is planned for implementation
to reduce conveyance losses. An automation system for the King Abdallah Canal
is being studied with support from KFW. All turnouts from the Canal will be
connected to a central computer and will be operated automatically by computer
generated commands. A subsequent stage for automation will include the mains
and submains of the distribution network, and will eventually encompass the
farm turnouts. The computer has been procured and installed, software also developed
with local inputs in system design and programming.
Conveyance efficiency (which is the difference between supply and use) has
been increased from about 60% ion 1992 to about 70% in 1995, as a result of
the measures taken by JVA in the last five years (Sheet N°.1).
6.2 Measures taken by JVA to Optimize Water Use Efficiency
The following measures on the supply and demand sides have been taken by JVA
to increase water use efficiency:
a) Building of Karameh Dam. This dam is being constructed at Wadi Malha, to
the west of Karameh in the Jordan Valley, with an estimated construction cost
of about 52 million JD. This project that started in 1994 and is expected to
be completed in 1997, will yield about 35 MCM/year for agricultural use.
b) Raising of Kafrein Dam project that started in 1995 will increase the capacity
of the existing dam by 4.6 MCM. This project is expected to be completed by
the end of 1996 with a total cost of about 8.5 million JD.
c) The conversion of remaining areas from surface to pressure pipe systems
will be completed in the Jordan Valley by mid-1996. The current North Ghour
Conversion Project being carried out by HANBO and supervised by NIPON COEI will
complete the conversion of about 7.300 ha of surface canals to pressurized pipes.
The total cost of this project is about 24 million JD and will save about 20
MCM/year.
d) Irrigation Water Delivery Scheduling Pilot : under this pilot programme,
farmers will be able to order water for delivery any day and in any quantity,
up to a set maximum, throughout the crop season. The total quantity of water
used for a crop will not change from current levels. The aim of this pilot is
to give farmers more control over their water delivery schedules, this benefit
comes with more responsibility. Farmers become responsible for keeping records
of water application amounts and must determine application times and quantities
for irrigation.
e) Repair of canal linings along the northern 94 km of King Abdallah Canal
(KAC) have been underway since the beginning of 1995. The total cost of this
project is about 10 million JD. The rehabilitation work is being carried out
by WIMPEY and supervised by MONTGOMERY WATSON.
f) The automated water management control system of the Jordan Valley, financed
by KFW, consists of three phases. Phase I started in 1985 and ended in 1988.
This phase included the computerization of the irrigation management system
and data bank. Phase II started in 1988 and ended in 1991. The activities of
the second phase included the updating of Phase I hardware to meet additional
requirements, and the development of new hardware and software for the following
JVA units :
- Finance and Personnel Directorate
- Lands Directorate
- Central Workshop and Stores at Fannush
- Daily Water Management System
- Seasonal Planning and Forecasting
The automated water management control system is being applied in the Jordan
Valley, a pilot project started in mid-November 1994 and will continue until
1998 in order to adopt the automated water management programmes.
A parallel project, financed by KFW, was launched with the interim phase to
implement a Water Measurement Network along KAC, including the installation
of 14 Measurement Stations and the automation of four Check-Gates. The contract
for the studies and supervision of this project was awarded to GERSAR (a French
firm) in association with local firms SMS-QUBEIN-TAG ENG. The Measurement Network
will be expanded later on to cover all the water resources in the Valley.
g) Since the horizontal expansion is limited, increasing cropping intensities
in wet years are being considered by the farmers in the valley. The Jordan Valley
Authority is encouraging the farmers for intensive winter cultivation.
h) Due to the limited water resources and water quality constraints, the cropping
pattern of new projects will be directed towards the use of salt-tolerant crops
like dates, and semi-tolerant crops like early producing seedless grapes which
offer good net income. A good example of this is the area to be irrigated by
the Karameh Dam water and the planned irrigation projects of Wadi Araba.
i) An on-going USAID-financed project (WQICP) is being carried out under the
administration of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. One of its components
is to deal with research and extension of the farm water arrangement.
j) A GTZ-financed study, carried out by GITEC and CEC (1994), study for the
Recovery of Operation and Maintenance Costs of Irrigation Water in Jordan, was
completed mid-1994. As a result of the study's recommendations, a new tariff
for irrigation water has been adopted since 1995.
7. Major Future Development Plans Related to Efficiency of
Use
The Investment programme of JVA includes different projects to increase water
use efficiency, available water resources and water quality protection. The
major projects that are planned for the near future can be summarized as follows
:
a) Integrated Development of the Southern Ghours
The project would involve constructing roller-compacted concrete dams on the
Wala, Mujib and Tannur wadis to store flood water from these main wadis. The
main objectives of this project are to provide additional supplies to the Arab
Potash Company, municipal use in Safi, expansion of tourism facilities and to
irrigate the Southern Ghours irrigation project. The project; which would be
built over eight years, is estimated to cost about 320 million USD.
b) Water Projects in the Peace Treaty
Article 6 of the Peace Treaty between Jordan and Israel and Annex II of the
said Treaty detail the agreement over water and water-related matters, and stipulate
the following water projects in the Jordan Valley :
- The construction of a diversion/storage dam on Yarmouk River downstream
of the Adassiya - point 121 diversion.
- The construction of a storage system on the Jordan River and of dams off
the river's course to impound flood water or store it through pumping respectively.
- The prohibition on the disposal of municipal and industrial wastewater into
the course of the Yarmouk or the Jordan rivers before they are treated to standards
allowing their unrestricted agricultural use.
c) Wadi Araba Irrigation Development Project
The project aims at utilizing the underground water resources of the shallow
aquifer to develop about 6.000 donums for agricultural use. The project includes
the drilling and rehabilitation of 38 wells, building of two small dams and
irrigation networks. Design and tender documents for this project will be completed
this year The estimated cost for this project is about 10 million JD.
8. Reuse of treated wastewater
Till recently, there was no planned direct wastewater effluent reuse even
though indirect reuse of wastewater is taking place. Effluents from wastewater
treatment plants are normally discharged to natural wadis (Valleys) and then
are reused in irrigation.
In Amman and Jerash, the treated wastewater effluents are discharged into
the wadis where they mix with surface flow and then reach the King Talal Dam,
from where they are used for unrestricted irrigation. The actual live storage
at King Talal Dam is 80 MCM, nearly 35% of which is supplied from the Samra
waste stabilization pond.
At salt, the effluent is discharged to Wadi Shueib which flows into the Shueib
Dam, where it is then used for unrestricted irrigation. During dry weather,
effluent from the treatment plants of Amman and Jerash make up most of the base
flow in the wadis. The flows of effluent from these treatment plants are used
for restricted irrigation by farmers along the banks of the wadis. Recharge
to the aquifer also takes place through the wadi beds.
In Aqaba, a portion of the effluent is used for irrigation of 1.500 palm and
forest trees. A portion of the effluent is used to irrigate a 0.5 ha experimental
plot planted with barley and wheat. The rest of the effluent is being recharged
into a semi-saline shallow aquifer.