IrWa - Improvement of irrigation water management in Lebanon and Jordan (http://www.irwaproject.com)
Starting date: 2003/06/01 - Duration (months): 48

 
Short description:
The present project intends to tackle the problem concerning irrigation water management in Lebanon and Jordan. The topics covered by the present project were detected after a deep investigation on the main problems that worry not only the concerned countries, but also the whole Mediterranean basin: the problem concerning water management. Such topic is one of major concern for the two countries covered by the project. The focal point and the philosophy of the project is the correct management and loss reduction of water resources for agricultural purposes in the area.

The project intends to tackle in particular the problem in two specific areas of two countries, in Jordan the Jordan Valley and in Lebanon the Litani River basin in the Bekaa Valley, north of Qaraoun Lake. On one side (Jordan) the water quality, the inappropriate filtering and irrigation systems, and on the other side (Lebanon) the lack of management of the Litani riverbed and on both sides the lack of a water saving mentality in irrigation are cause of loss of precious water resources for agriculture. Although the interventions to be carried out are quite different in the two countries, this is to be considered a richening factor more than a limitation because the situations faced in the two target areas of the project can be found in other areas of the respective countries.
Loss reduction, water conservation and improved sharing and distribution of water resources are the key aspects. In fact, in Jordan, during the winter season, a great amount of rainwater is lost to the Jordan River because of the lack of structures able to contain and stock large amounts of water; in Lebanon, on the other hand, the scarcity of water is a limiting factor for agriculture in large areas of the northern Bekaa Valley The project intends to orient the local authorities to a more rational use of water. Its activities, besides providing the solution of some existing problems, will transfer to the counterpart a problem solving mentality acting as an example that may be followed in other areas and situations. Training, creation of the service centers and availability of equipment will be functional not only for the achievement of the project results, but also to give the local partners all the means required to continue the project activities.
Therefore they can take advantage of the findings in the different locations for similar situations that could occur in their respective countries. In Lebanon, Bekaa Valley is the most fertile region viewed the vital significance of the Litany River. The Litany River Authority (LRA) is the official institution that deals with the technical issues directly related to the River as well as with the rural development themes. The river course did not have any rehabilitation since the mid seventies due to the political situation and the consequent lack of funds. In addition, the personnel of LRA lacks training and updating on new concepts in terms of water management. Presently, the poor irrigation management is limiting the availability to use lands for agriculture thus increasing the crop productive cost. Government capabilities either to subsidize such projects, or to adopt a policy protecting the affected parties are lacking. With the perspective of ameliorating the water management, the proposed project aims at rehabilitating the Litany River and establishing an Extension Center that will concentrate on awareness raising and training issues. Jordan faces severe scarcity in water supply. The Government is obliged to give priority to drinking and industrial water needs, increasing the use of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation, particularly in the agricultural region of the Jordan River Valley. All the concerned authorities are involved in decreasing water losses and increasing irrigation efficiency at both levels: irrigation regional network and at farmers level. Also, using wastewater, the quality of water needs to be continuously controlled, and its effect on the agricultural products assessed. Aside from the quality of the water arriving from the treatment plants, there is a great problem linked to the lack of filtering units upstream, condition that causes great clogging problems of the network both long the main line and at the farmers level.

Themes covered:
IV. Irrigation water management

Projects documents available for IrWa

Up