FAO conducts training for farmers in Mafraq

AMMAN — The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) team on Wednesday met with the Water User Association in Al Ghadeer Al Abyad Dam area in Mafraq Governorate to conduct training courses through the Farmer Field School FFS approach. 

This activity will build upon FAO’s previous activities of the Swiss-funded project in Mafraq. The project adopted a three-pronged community-based approach, combining the use of rainwater harvesting, conjunctive use of ground and surface water, and solar power for lifting irrigation water, according to a FAO statement. 

The project terminated in July 2020 by “successfully achieving its goals” by rehabilitating a water dam with a capacity of 700,000 square metres and installing a solar-powered irrigation system to support the agricultural activity of the farmers. 

FAO started the FFS methodology in Jordan in 2004. The FFS are based on learning by doing approach and during this year of implementation with the Ministry of Agriculture and NARC, it “proved to be a very successful tool in enhancing the awareness of the farmers about local agro-ecosystems and increasing the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)”, said the statement. 

FAO Jordan is starting this component with the members of Water User Association in Al Ghadeer Al Abyad Dam in Mafraq, currently producing red cabbage, lettuce and thyme, using the solar-powered irrigation system.  

Marco De Milato, FAO Project Manager, said: “The water project implemented by FAO and funded by the Swiss cooperation built the foundations for a transformative action. FAO is committed in strengthening the marketing and the agricultural skills of the farmers and supporting them in improving their livelihood through the FFS and the promotion of Climate Smart Agriculture,” concluded the statement.