Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Saeb Abdul Halim Khreissat, announced that the ministry is currently implementing this year’s water harvesting plan, which includes construction and maintenance at approximately 40 sites. These projects have a total capacity of roughly 1.5 million cubic meters and are being executed in cooperation with the Jordan Valley Authority.
اضافة اعلان
Strategic Importance for Water Security
Dr. Khreissat emphasized that water harvesting is a strategic pillar for enhancing water security in Jordan, especially given the growing challenges of water scarcity and fluctuating rainfall. He noted that these projects facilitate the collection, storage, and reuse of rainwater—particularly in the Badia (desert) regions—thereby promoting sustainability and mitigating the effects of drought.
Supporting Livestock and Agriculture
The Minister highlighted several key benefits of these efforts:
Livestock Support: Providing essential water sources for livestock breeders, which reduces supply costs and supports the stability of pastoral communities.
Food Security: Enhancing national food security by securing water resources.
Supplemental Irrigation: Supporting irrigation in the Southern Ghor and Wadi Araba regions by improving agricultural production efficiency without putting pressure on traditional water sources.
Environmental and Climatic Benefits
Dr. Khreissat pointed out that water harvesting facilities play a vital role in:
Groundwater Recharge: Replenishing aquifers and reviving natural springs.
Biodiversity: Creating aquatic environments that support plant and animal life in arid and semi-arid areas.
Climate Adaptation: Serving as an effective tool for climate change adaptation by regulating surface runoff and reducing flood risks, particularly during the intense, short-duration rainstorms Jordan has recently experienced.
Sustainability and Recent Rainfall
The Minister stressed the importance of periodic maintenance based on specialized technical assessments and the involvement of local communities to ensure long-term efficiency.
He concluded by noting that recent low-pressure weather systems significantly filled most of these facilities in the central regions and along the Kingdom’s western mountain range. This boost in storage enhances readiness for the agricultural season and strengthens the national water reserve.
