Amman:A UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) workshop reviewed the results of a project using remote sensing to enhance land and water productivity in Jordan. This initiative introduced new tools for irrigation assessment, groundwater monitoring, and crop mapping.
According to Jordan News Agency, the project involved training 43 technical staff from five institutions over two years, with 45 percent of the trainees being women. The initiative also led to the establishment of the National Knowledge Hub for Land and Water Productivity at the University of Jordan's Faculty of Agriculture.
The workshop discussed the future use of satellite-based technologies to support sustainable agricultural water management in the country. This event marked the end of the second phase of the Water Productivity through Open-access of Remotely Sensed Derived Data (WaPOR) project. The project was in collaboration with the University of Jordan and the International Water Management Institute, supported by the Government of the Netherlands and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Participants included representatives from the ministries of Agriculture and Water and Irrigation, the Jordan Valley Authority, and the Water Authority. Ministry of Agriculture Secretary-General Mohammad Hyari emphasized the need for improved planning and management tools to address Jordan's water challenges. He highlighted the importance of accurate data from the WaPOR platform to improve water-use efficiency and maximize the benefits of available water resources.
FAO Representative in Jordan Thaer Yaseen stated that integrating the developed knowledge and tools into national planning and decision-making processes is a priority following the project's second phase.
The workshop also showcased findings from a joint FAO-EBRD study on the economic productivity of irrigation water in citrus production systems in the northern Jordan Valley. The study highlighted opportunities to enhance water-use efficiency and increase farm profitability.