New dams and reservoirs planned to help improve agricultural productivity

Ministry of Agriculture
(Photo: Jordan News)
AMMAN — The excavation of new reservoirs, elimination of sediment at another and maintenance work on a dam are underway in Badia, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Khalid Al Hneifat.اضافة اعلان

Hneifat said Saturday that maintenance on the Jalat Dam in Al-Jizah District is underway, as is work on a new excavated reservoir in Wadi Abu Al Awafi in the Southern Badiah in Al Hassa district, which will have a total capacity of 86,000 cubic meters, work is also underway on the elimination of 75,000 cubic meters of sediment from the Middle Badiah, according to Al-Ghad News.

The minister said a future plan for the harvesting of water and the rehabilitation of dams and excavations aims to increase water storage capacity to 67 million cubic meters, following on Royal directives to rejuvenate the agricultural sector.

A total of 30 excavations and dams at a cost of JD 2 million are planned across the country by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the Jordan Valley Authority, with implementation starting from next year.

The aim is to build as many dams and excavated reservoirs in the Badia and areas across the Kingdom that are known for their agricultural production capacity.

The dams planned include the Abu Khashabiyah Dam, with 150,000 cubic meter capacity, and the Taxi Valley excavated reservoir, with a storage capacity topping 100,000 cubic meters.

Hneifat said that the water harvesting plan will provide water around the year, by storing the largest amount possible of rain water, securing water for cattle so as to increase both production capacity and income from agriculture, improving the environment and grasslands, and feeding the underground water aquafers, and reducing pressure on artesian wells.

The minister said that water harvesting is at the top of the ministry’s priorities, in addition to proposing the expansion of dams and wells through tenders in cooperation with international organization.

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