Irrigation canal lining projects being implemented by Jordan’s Ministry of Agriculture in Jerash Governorate are renewing hope for farmers who have struggled for years to get water to their land, as efficient water use remains one of the main challenges facing the agricultural sector. With pressure growing to conserve every available drop, ensuring that water reaches targeted farmland without waste or interruption has become increasingly important.
اضافة اعلان
The importance of these projects is particularly evident in Wadi Souf, where lining a 2,000-meter section of the Al-Maghasel Canal has addressed an irrigation problem that persisted for more than a decade. The project restored water supplies to agricultural land that had been deprived of irrigation for years, benefiting around 50 farmers.
Another project involved lining a 100-meter section of the Abu Al-Raml and Al-Shatout Al-Sharqi Canal, benefiting around 25 farmers whose land includes fruit orchards and agricultural nurseries.
The projects are being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture using funds allocated through decentralization programs, in coordination with the ministry’s Projects Directorate and under the supervision of the Projects Department at the Jerash Directorate of Agriculture. They form part of broader efforts to improve irrigation services, increase water-use efficiency and meet farmers’ needs in agricultural areas.
The importance of canal lining extends beyond improving or maintaining water channels. It addresses a problem that directly affects farmers’ ability to continue cultivating their land. Receiving adequate water at the right time is essential for a successful agricultural season, maintaining fruit trees and reducing losses resulting from inadequate or delayed irrigation, particularly on farmland that relies on irrigation canals to deliver water.
A Development Step
Farmer Khaled Freihat said that in agricultural areas suffering from inadequate water supplies, shortages can place an additional burden on farmers, particularly smallholders who depend on their land to cover cultivation costs and provide income for their families.
When such problems persist for years, their effects can go beyond lower production, potentially leading to the neglect of some farmland or a reduction in cultivated areas as farmers become unable to secure sufficient water for their crops.
Freihat said addressing defects in irrigation canals represents a development step that goes beyond construction work, helping farmers make better use of their land and strengthening the prospects for continued agricultural activity in areas where cultivable land is available but access to water remains a major obstacle.
Farmer Mohammad Obeidat said the Al-Maghasel Canal project in Wadi Souf is a prominent example of this impact, given the length of the canal lined, the decade-long irrigation problem and the number of farmers benefiting from it.
He said lining 2,000 meters of the canal is expected to improve water flow and reduce leakage through the sides and bottom, helping water reach targeted farmland more efficiently, depending on operating conditions and the available water source.
Obeidat added that restoring irrigation to farmland after more than 10 years is particularly significant because it allows farmers to make use again of agricultural areas that had suffered from persistent water shortages. It also gives them an opportunity to reorganize their farming activities and plan for upcoming seasons on a more stable basis, rather than dealing with a recurring problem that affects planting and production decisions.
Farmer Mustafa Al-Ayasra said addressing irrigation canal problems is a fundamental demand for farmers because having water available at the right time enables them to maintain their agricultural activities and protect trees and crops, while reducing the burdens caused by interruptions or the failure of water to reach farmland located far from its sources.
Al-Ayasra said irrigation projects should also be viewed from the perspective of farmers’ daily needs. The success of a project should not be measured solely by the length of the canal lined, but by its ability to improve services to beneficiary farmland, ensure more consistent water delivery and improve agricultural production and its costs.
The Abu Al-Raml and Al-Shatout Al-Sharqi Canal lining project addresses the needs of another area through the rehabilitation of a 100-meter section, benefiting around 25 farmers. The beneficiaries include fruit growers, including citrus and olive farmers, as well as agricultural nurseries, according to the Jerash Directorate of Agriculture.
Al-Ayasra noted that fruit trees require proper irrigation management that takes into account tree type, age, weather conditions and soil characteristics. Nurseries also require continuous water management because plants are particularly sensitive during their early stages of growth.
Improving the efficiency of water delivery to these locations can therefore help farmers manage their agricultural needs more effectively, provided that sufficient water is available and delivered according to approved irrigation schedules.
Farmer Adel Al-Essa stressed the importance of improving irrigation canals for farmers who rely on fruit trees, noting that regular water supplies help them maintain their orchards and sustain agricultural activity while reducing problems caused by interruptions in water delivery.
Al-Essa added that the timing of these projects is also important. Completing maintenance and lining work before winter gives authorities and farmers a better opportunity to prepare for the agricultural season, assess the readiness of canals and related facilities, and address problems that could hinder water flow.
Carrying out such work in advance also allows maintenance activities to be organized away from certain weather conditions that could make field operations more difficult, depending on the location and implementation schedule of each project.
With the arrival of winter, conditions affecting canals and water infrastructure change. Rainfall and surface runoff can affect the stability of soil surrounding canals, while sediment, debris and other materials may obstruct water flow at some locations.
For this reason, lining and maintaining canals, together with cleaning them and monitoring the condition of their components, can improve operational readiness and reduce the likelihood of technical problems worsening.
However, lining alone is not sufficient to address all irrigation challenges or eliminate every form of water loss. Maintaining canal efficiency requires regular monitoring, repairs to damaged sections, removal of sediment and obstructions, and inspection for leaks or breaks that may emerge after completion.
The reliability of water delivery also depends on other factors, including the quantity of water available, the condition of its sources, distribution management and the integrity of the remaining components of the irrigation network.
Source: Al Ghad
