Research Series Issue 66
2021
Kafle K | Balasubramanya S
Frequent droughts and rapidly depleting groundwater reserves have deepened the waterscarcity crisis in Jordan. Even though most farms use ?water-saving? technologies,groundwater depletion continues at an alarming rate. We investigate how perceptions ofphysical water availability in the past are related to farmers? current irrigation behaviour ?frequency of irrigation and methods used in determining irrigation need. Using primary datafrom a survey of 414 commercial farms in Mafraq and Azraq governorates, we find thatrespondents who perceived reduction in physical water availability and faced agriculturallosses in the past irrigated more frequently and were more likely to use self-judgement indetermining irrigation need. These relationships were more pronounced for smaller farms,farms with sandy soil, mono-cropping farms and farms where the owner was the manager.These effects were lower for farms that preferred internet-based and in-person approachesfor receiving irrigation advice. In addition, while the frequency of irrigation was higheramong stone-fruit farms, the probability of using self-judgement in determining irrigationneed was higher in olive farms and vegetable farms. We argue that farmers? irrigationbehaviour must be considered for groundwater management policy and planning in Jordan
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