JORDAN - SPRINKLER IRRIGATION

WHEN OPERATIONAL, PSIS WILL PROVIDE PERMANENT IRRIGATION WATER FOR 93100 DUNUMS OF LAND (APPROX 23275 ACRES). LOAN WILL FUND PROCUREMENT OF PSIS PIPING & ACCESSORIES FROM US SUPPLIERS WHO WILL ALSO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRAIN FARMERS IN INSTALLATION,USE & MAINTENANCE OF PSIS. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THESE FUNCTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED BY 5 TECHNICIANS RETURNING FROM PARTICIPANT TRAINING IN SPRINKLER TECHNOLOGY. EQUIPMENT PROCURED INCLUDES PORTABLE PIPES,FILTERS,PRESSURE GAUGES,COUPLERS,VALVES,BATTENS,FITTING & SPRINKLER HEADS WHICH WILL BE SOLD OR ADVANCED ON CREDIT TO INDIVIDUAL FARMERS. ADAPTIVE RESEARCH WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THE EQUIPMENT,CROPS & AREAS NOW UNDER DEVELOPMENT TO ESTABLISH THE BEST POSSIBLE PSIS OPERATIONAL PRACTICES AT THE FARMER LEVEL. ALONG THE PERIMETER OF EACH FARM,A FIXED PIPE SYSTEM WILL BE INSTALLED WHILE THE PSIS WILL BE CONNECTED TO FIXED HYDRANTS; THROUGH MOVEMENT OF THE PSIS,WATER WILL BE APPLIED TO SUCCESSIVE PLOTS OF EACH FARM. THREE JORDANIAN ORGANIZATIONS WILL PARTICIPATE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT. PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE JORDAN VALLEY COMMISSION(JVC). THE NATURAL RESOURCES AUTHORITY(NRA) WILL OVERSEE THE STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF SPRINKLER EQUIPMENT TO ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT FARMERS. THE AGRICULTURAL CREDIT CORPORATION WILL ESTABLISH CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS WITH PROSPECTIVE RECIPIENTS OF NEWLY ARABLE LAND. THE JVC WILL CONTRACT AGREEMENTS WITH BOTH NRA & ACC. EQUIPMENT SALE PROCEEDS WILL BE RELENT BY THE ACC TO FARMERS FOR PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL AND/OR REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT. THE ACC CREDIT SYSTEM WILL OFFER SEASONAL & MEDIUM-TERM CREDIT TO INDIVIDUAL FARMERS FOR SPRINKLER PURCHASE. PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES WILL BE THE FARMERS WHO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO PSIS EQUIPMENT & TRAINING AND READILY AVAILABLE CREDIT FOR PSIS OPERATION,MAINTENANCE,SUPPLIES. FARMERS WILL ALSO BE BENEFICIARIES OF LAND REDISTRIB ONCE PSIS PROJ IMPL.