By Leen Al-Kilani ~
At dawn, in the light of morning gold, on the border of the desert east of Jordan is a miracle: fields of lettuce, fields of eggplant, fields of tomatoes glistening under a fine web of water. The miracle is hidden behind hard land, behind hard men — Jordanian farmers who, in one of the driest places on earth, are raising crops from sand.
No illusion — innovation. With water-saving technology, hydroponics, and climate-resilient crops, investments by Jordanian farmers are converting sand into gold. And in the process, they’re making a blue print for hope in one of the world’s fastest under siege places in the wake of climate change.
Water-Wise Agriculture in the Heart of the Desert
Jordan is among the globe’s top-five water-poorest nations, possessing less than 100 cubic meters per capita per year of renewable water — hardly above a fraction of the world water poverty line. And still, this daunting issue has summoned superlative imagination.
All of these activities are about Hydroponic Jordan, the leader in the use of soilless culture to produce crops on as much as 90% less water than conventional agriculture. Evaporation is reduced as crops are cultivated in nutrient solutions maintained in closed systems. Chemical fertilizers are not used and do not contribute to pollution.
“Hydrponics allow us to accomplish more with less,” explains Khaled Abu Saoud, a teacher in the Madaba region of hydroponics. “We can grow year-round — even in hot summer temperatures — and conserve valuable water.”
Solar-Powered Solutions
It’s sustainability that’s fueling Jordan’s green revolution. Solar energy is charging up electricity to energize irrigation pumps and greenhouses in the Jordan Valley, lowering diesel fuel use and cost of production by astronomical degrees.
Some of the projects include FAO-funded Mafraq solar-powered irrigation, which already irrigates dozens of smallholder farms. In addition to saving the consumption of fossil fuel, it also provides farmers with an opportunity to farm in far-flung areas where there is no electric grid or where there is a limited one.
Solar technology has come in most handy in areas such as Azraq and the Badia where conventional farming had hitherto been impossible.
Bedouin Traditional Knowledge and Technology
In response to the break with the past, Jordanian agricultural innovation is more likely to reconcile ancient knowledge with the use of hi-tech machines.
In the desert town of Ma’an in south Jordan, Bedouin farmers are watering crops precisely using satellite-tracked drip irrigation. The ICARDA-supported system reduces water consumption by 30–50% and raises the yield — without sacrificing traditional land management.
“Technology has given us back our land,” says Um Salem, a second-generation farmer who now runs a thriving herb farm. “We’re farming like our grandparents did — but smarter.”
Refugee-Led Farms Bloom in Zaatari
The most heavily promoted example of farm rehabilitation perhaps is in the Zaatari refugee camp, where there are more than 80,000 Syrians. There, the displaced people are taking vacant lots and farming them with mint, parsley, and cucumbers — all harvested using vertical farming, composting, and greywater recycling methods.
With the assistance of organizations like UNHCR and Greening the Camps, they’re not just feeding them — they’re providing them with pride and a sense of purpose. “These gardens remind us that we can still make something beautiful,” says Syrian mother of five Fatima, outside her shelter where a rooftop garden thrived.
Exporting Jordan’s Green Lessons
Jordan’s tale of smart farming is domestic but national. In 2023, the nation signed a record Green Energy and Water Agreement with the UAE and Israel on the exchange of solar energy for desalinated water, a model to be emulated regionally as well for food and water security innovation.
Jordanian agripreneurs are also exporting expertise, offering consultancy services to be used for similar projects in the Gulf and Africa. They are building sensor-based platforms for measuring soil water and moisture, from which Jordan’s technology presence radiates into the global arena.
A Future Rooted in Resilience
In a time of climate disruption, when the play book for the farm is being revised, Jordan has become an improbable but formidable advocate. By investing in innovation and civic engagement, the Kingdom has proven that even the driest of lands can bloom with tenderness — and courage.
“Crop cultivation is no stroll in the park here in Jordan,” says businesswoman and agronomist Salma Odeh. “It never was easy anyway. It is a matter of survival. And this desert — our desert — is teaching us to survive, yes, but also to prosper.”
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