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Objective
IRWA aims at the optimisation of irrigation efficiency and
farm outputs in the intervention areas along the Litani
River between Qaraoun Lake and Bar Elias village in
Lebanon and in the Central - Southern Jordan Valley in
Jordan
How does the IRWA work?
In Lebanon, IRWA has been working on the rehabilitation of
the Litani river to control inundations and soil erosion.
At the same time, the project has built an Agricultural
Service Centre in the Bekaa Valley and supports the Litani
River Authority in its daily operation. In Jordan, an
upstream filtering system is being installed in one of the
pumping stations along the King Abdullah Canal, which will
improve the quality of irrigation water. IRWA also
upgraded the Laboratory for Soil and Water Analysis in the
Deir Alla Research Station.
Field trials on on-farm filtration techniques are being
conducted to guide farmers in acquiring appropriate
technology. In both countries, altogether 14 extension
agents received advanced on-the-job training.
For 2006-2007, the project will train farmers in water
management and related issues. Pilot farms for proper
operation and maintenance of the irrigation networks,
on-farm filtration and fertigation will be established.
Field data will be collected and analysed to support the
preparation of dissemination materials for the extension
services as well as for the upcoming IRWA Regional
Conference on irrigation water management.
Added value of the IRWA project
The IRWA Project is strengthening the capacity of the
local partners in terms of facilities and human
re-sources. Through coordination between the local
partners, provision of reciprocal support and networking
with other local organisations that deal with water
management, IRWA will contribute to the enhancement of
regional cooperation on irrigation water issues.
The project partners
The IRWA project consortium consists of 5 institutes from
the MEDA countries Lebanon and Jordan and the EU countries
Italy and Spain.
The Institute for University Cooperation,
an Italian NGO for development cooperation, is leading the
consortium. |
