Mohammad Majdalawi:
The Resource Management and the Living Standard in Different Farming Systems according to Different Water Qualities: a Case from Jordan

MOHAMMAD MAJDALAWI
University of Hohenheim, Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences in the Tropics and Subtropics, Germany

It is generally agreed that over the last few years the water related problems in Jordan have been increasing. The demand for water has increased steadily over the years while the supply of water has become quite limited. The interest in wastewater treatment increased and the use of treated water for irrigation started.

This paper deals with the resources management in different farming systems referring to the specific classification of water quality. Differences between different farming systems and irrigation water quality are described. Also the socio-economic issues of families and farms are addressed. An analysis of how farmers adapt using the resources under the conditions of different water qualities in different farming system and how this adaptation reflects on their living standardis given. The paper aims to analyse the effect of different water qualities on the resource management in different farming systems under different conditions of water availability and water quality, also it aims also to analyse the effect of using different water qualities on the living standard of the farmers in these zones by using the cluster analysis as a methodology to determine the homogenity groups of farmers in the study area regarding to the living standard to conclude if these homogeneity groups are different in using the quality of water.

The main results in this paper are: the use and management of resources differ in different farming systems according to the water quality classification. The use of like green houses and drip irrigation, and the value of investment also differ among farming systems. Thus, the use of different water qualities does not lead to differences in living standards of farmers.

Keywords: Farming system, living standard, low quality water

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Contact Address: Mohammad Majdalawi, University of Hohenheim, Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences in the Tropics and Subtropics, Filderhauptstraße 215, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany, e-mail: mohammaduni-hohenheim.de