A Strategic Step

International food security expert Dr. ELZUBI emphasized that, in light of the growing challenges Jordan faces in the water sector, the Rainwater Harvesting Project emerges as a strategic step to strengthen agricultural water security and support farmers’ resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Dr. ELZUBI explained that the project is based on the principle of harvesting and storing rainwater for later use in supplemental irrigation of crops and trees, particularly in rainfed areas that rely primarily on rainfall.

He noted that the project is implemented through the construction of small earthen dams and catchment basins, the building of water collection reservoirs, as well as the rehabilitation of agricultural terraces to improve soil water retention and manage surface runoff more efficiently.

The project aims to achieve several vital objectives, most notably:

• Enhancing agricultural water security in rural areas.
• Reducing pressure on groundwater resources, which are increasingly depleted.
• Raising the productivity of rainfed crops such as olives, cereals, and almonds.
• Supporting farmers’ resilience against drought waves and rainfall variability.
• Improving natural resource management to ensure the sustainability of agricultural lands.

Dr. ELZUBI added that the project is expected to provide an additional water source during critical periods of the agricultural season, thereby increasing crop and tree productivity despite limited rainfall. It also helps reduce soil erosion risks, improves land quality, and strengthens the agricultural sector’s ability to adapt to climate change.

He stressed that the importance of this project stems from the fact that nearly 70% of Jordan’s agriculture depends on rainfall, in a country considered among the most water-poor in the world. With the intensifying impacts of climate change—ranging from erratic rainfall to prolonged droughts—rainwater harvesting becomes one of the practical, low-cost solutions to enhance agricultural sustainability.

Finally, Dr. ELZUBI highlighted that the project represents a model of international cooperation in addressing water and food challenges. It not only provides farmers with an additional resource but also reinforces the concept of climate resilience and strengthens Jordan’s capacity to protect its natural resources. In a country suffering from acute water scarcity, such projects are not merely an option but a necessity to ensure a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.