Farmer Bilal Al-Jarrah did not wait to own large areas of land before launching his agricultural venture. Instead, he transformed a small plot in the Northern Mazar District of Irbid Governorate into a multi-activity farming project combining dragon fruit production and seedling propagation, blackberry cultivation, local chicken rearing, beekeeping and azolla cultivation. His approach focuses on diversifying income sources and making the most of the resources available on the farm.
اضافة اعلان
While agriculture is often associated with land size and production volume, Al-Jarrah has sought to demonstrate that limited space does not necessarily mean limited opportunities. With careful planning and the selection of complementary activities, a small plot can become a productive venture offering multiple products and sources of income.
Dragon fruit is at the heart of Al-Jarrah’s agricultural experiment, which he began several years ago after discovering the unusual fruit through videos on social media. This prompted him to research its characteristics, cultivation methods and requirements before embarking on a journey to obtain seedlings and experiment with growing the fruit locally.
Al-Jarrah told Al-Ghad that his interest in dragon fruit began around eight years ago, when the fruit was rare in the Jordanian market and sold for approximately JD 30 per kilogram. This encouraged him to explore the possibility of cultivating it locally, particularly as there were indications that it could adapt to the Kingdom’s agricultural conditions.
After research and experimentation, he managed to obtain seedlings from abroad and gradually developed his cultivation methods, learning about the plant’s irrigation, fertilization and pruning requirements, as well as the weather conditions it needs. He eventually began producing fruit and propagating seedlings, turning what started as an agricultural experiment into an activity with potential for economic growth.
A plot of approximately half a dunum
Al-Jarrah currently grows dragon fruit on an area of approximately half a dunum, while also supervising and monitoring a larger farm in Kafr Soum. He stresses that cultivating the crop is not necessarily very difficult but requires a detailed understanding of the plant and how to care for it, particularly in terms of fertilization, irrigation, pruning and monitoring weather conditions.
The farm’s produce is marketed through the central market, while some is sold directly to consumers according to demand. The price generally ranges from JD 4.5 to JD 5.5 per kilogram, depending on the season, production volume and marketing method.
Al-Jarrah believes the project’s economic value lies in more than selling the fruit. Producing seedlings represents an additional revenue stream that can increase returns from the same area. Propagating dragon fruit seedlings enables him to meet the needs of farmers and others interested in experimenting with the crop, while also allowing him to share the knowledge and experience he has gained over the years.
He believes the limited spread of dragon fruit cultivation in Jordan is partly due to many farmers’ lack of familiarity with the crop and its requirements.
Successful cultivation, he notes, depends on understanding the growing process rather than simply obtaining a seedling, as proper care throughout the plant’s growth stages largely determines yield and fruit quality.
However, the project extends beyond dragon fruit. Al-Jarrah has chosen to develop an integrated farming system within the available space, ensuring that each production activity complements the others. To achieve this, he introduced azolla cultivation, local chicken rearing and beekeeping, alongside an experiment in blackberry cultivation.
Azolla is used to feed the farm’s local chickens as a natural, protein-rich feed source. According to Al-Jarrah, this helps make use of a resource produced on the farm and reduce some feeding costs. Chicken waste and organic manure are also used to support agricultural activities, creating a more integrated cycle among the different components of the project.
Beekeeping on the farm is not limited to honey production. Al-Jarrah views bees as an integral part of the agricultural system, particularly because of their role in pollination. Plant flowers provide a food source for the bees, while their activity helps improve pollination opportunities, creating a mutually beneficial relationship between beekeeping and crop production.
Al-Jarrah has also begun growing blackberries. The experiment is relatively new, and he expects production to improve during the next season, adding another crop to the farm’s range of products.
He emphasizes that diversifying activities is not simply about increasing the number of products. Rather, it is about making the best possible use of every part of the land and every available resource. Owners of small plots, he explains, cannot manage their land in the same way as owners of large farms. They therefore need to select activities that generate the highest possible value per unit of land.
Al-Jarrah believes combining crop production, livestock rearing, beekeeping and seedling propagation makes the project more resilient. Relying on a single crop leaves farmers more vulnerable to price fluctuations, weather conditions and seasonal changes in output. Diversification, by contrast, offers alternative sources of income that can partially offset a decline in another activity.
Looking ahead, Al-Jarrah hopes to expand his experiment, particularly in dragon fruit seedling production, gradually increase the cultivated area and strengthen the educational aspect of his work by sharing his knowledge with farmers and others interested in growing the crop.
He says the experience has demonstrated that modern agriculture does not depend solely on owning large areas of land. Instead, it requires sound planning, selecting suitable activities and managing resources efficiently. In his view, even small plots can become productive ventures when managed with an investment-oriented mindset rather than through traditional approaches.
For his part, Northern Mazar District Agriculture Director Engineer Ahed Obeidat considers Al-Jarrah’s project an important example of how limited agricultural land can be managed through careful planning, diversified production and the integration of different farming activities.
Obeidat notes that the project’s significance extends beyond cultivating high-value crops such as dragon fruit and blackberries. It also lies in developing an integrated system that combines crop production, seedling propagation, chicken rearing, beekeeping and the use of azolla as a feed source, thereby improving resource efficiency and reducing waste.
He says such projects align with modern agricultural approaches focused on increasing productivity and maximizing returns per unit of land, particularly for smallholders. By diversifying their activities, these farmers can develop more sustainable projects and establish more consistent income streams.
Obeidat stresses the importance of encouraging farmers to adopt entrepreneurial ideas and unconventional practices suited to their local conditions and available resources. Agricultural extension services, he explains, can play a key role in helping farmers select suitable crops, apply scientific cultivation methods and improve both production and product quality.
He considers such initiatives success stories worth documenting and sharing, not only because of the products they provide but also because of the ideas they offer other farmers, particularly in showing how the challenges associated with limited land can become opportunities for diversification and innovation.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Ahmad Al-Tamimi
