Multicriteria Analysis For Water Productivity in the Jordan Valley

Abstract

Multiple variables associated with agricultural sector, including crop water consumption, salinity tolerance, marketing, evapotranspiration and other factors related to industrial sector, were incorporated into a multi-criteria analysis (MCA). The MCA utilized Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) which resulted in the prioritization of water use for management in the Jordan Valley. The inputs to the MCA were generated through metrological variables for the Jordan Valley for the period 1980 to 1999. Soil data and crop data were evaluated using the EVAPOT program, the KCISA program, and the ISAREG model to estimate reference evapotranspiration, crop coefficiency, crop water requirement, and calculations of water productivity for agricultural and industrial sectors. The results of the MCA make recommendations for enhancing long-term sustainability of water resources in the Jordan Valley, while allowing for water utilization and economic growth. The MCA ranked the date palm as the highest priority crop with respect to the goal of sustainable agricultural use of water. Apparel manufacturing was the most sustainable industry. Overall, the industrial sector seems to perform better with regards to water productivity than the agricultural sector. It can be concluded that the MCA tool and ISAREG model are potentially positive contributions to the process of decision-making for selection and ranking of alternatives for help in solving problems that include conflicting criteria.

The occurrence of lithium in the environment of the Jordan Valley and its transfer into the food chain

“…In parallel, the maximum ET o monthly mean is 205.7 mm during July, while the minimum ET o monthly mean is 72.4 mm during January. The increase in evapotranspiration appears most noticeable in the period between April and October with a range of 161-137 mm (Al-Zu'bi and Al-Kharabsheh 2003). The mean annual precipitation ranges between 250 and 300 mm, which is typical for arid regions.…”

Formulating Expectations for Future Water Availability through Infrastructure Development Decisions in Arid Regions

“…Jordan is a water scarce country, with annual per capita water resources of 145 m 3 that are well below the scarcity threshold of 1000 m 3 [JWS, ]. The water resources in Jordan have been extensively studied, and a number of studies have employed MCDM to evaluate supply augmentation options (including desalination, long distance pumped groundwater pipelines), and demand management options (such as changing cropping patterns in the agricultural sector) [Akash, ; Jaber, ; Al‐Zu'bi, ].…”

“…While Jordan's natural water resources and infrastructure options are well understood [Hadadin, ], recent political crises, infrastructure development for harnessing local energy resources, and longer‐term climate change projections lend increased importance to the question of understanding future water availability and access in the region. The political un‐rest in neighboring countries has caused a large refugee migration that has burdened water supplies [Al‐Zu'bi, ; Weinthal, ], plans for exploiting local oil‐shale reserves require water for mining [MSES, 2007; MEMR, ], and climate change projections indicate further worsening of fresh water availability in the country. Since many decisions of critical infrastructure in urban and industrial development are inter‐dependent [Alfaris et al, ], public and private planners and investors need and value information regarding access to important resources such as of water and energy.…”

Effect of irrigation water on agricultural soil in Jordan valley: An example from arid area conditions

“…The major developments in irrigation started in the 1950s, aiming at integrated rural development of the Jordan Valley to utilize Jordan's share of the water resources of the River Jordan System. Currently, irrigation is practiced in two main areas: the Jordan rift valley (JRV) and the Upland (Al-Zu'bi and Al-Kharabsheh, 2003).…”