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Water and Livelihoods Initiative (WLI) First Quarter Report (Oct-Dec 2013)

The photograph shown on the front cover was provided by the WLI Iraq team

(“Forage (Berseem) Production under Irrigated Agriculture”).

1

Acronyms

AREA Agricultural Research and Extension Authority

ARC Agricultural Research Center

ARIJ Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem

AUB American University of Beirut, Lebanon

AUC American University in Cairo

CA Conservation Agriculture

CBA Cost Benefit Analysis

CBO Community Based Organization

CC Climate Change

GCC Global Climate Change

GCSAR General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research

GEF-UNDP Global Environment Facility- United Nations Development Program

GIS Geographic Information System

HU Hebron University

ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development

INAT National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia

INRAT National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia

IRA Institute of Arid Regions-Medenine

IPM Integrated Pest Management

IT Information Technology

IWMI International Water Management Institute

JU Jordan University

LARI Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute

LRC Land Research Center

MEPI Middle East Partnership Initiative

MENA Middle East and North Africa

MC Mercy Corps

NARC National Agricultural Research Center

NARS National Agricultural Research Systems

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NCARE National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension

NGO Non-Governmental Organization

NWRA National Water Resource Authority

NWRC National Water Resource Center

OAR Office of Agricultural Research - Iraq

RS Remote Sensing

RFP Request For Proposal

SEPRP Social, Economic and Policy Research Program

SWAT Soil and Water Assessment Tool

UJ University of Jordan

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USDA-ARS United States Department for Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services

WAS Water Accounting System

WEAP Water Evaluation and Planning

WLI Water and Livelihoods Initiative

WUA Water User Association

2

WUE Water Use Efficiency

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 4

Egypt ............................................................................................................................................................ 6

Iraq ............................................................................................................................................................... 8

Jordan ......................................................................................................................................................... 10

Lebanon ..................................................................................................................................................... 12

Palestine ..................................................................................................................................................... 14

Syria ........................................................................................................................................................... 16

Tunisia ........................................................................................................................................................ 18

Yemen ........................................................................................................................................................ 21

Appendix 1: Report on Selected FtF Indicators ............................................................................................. 23

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Executive Summary

The report offers a summary of activities that were conducted by the Water and Livelihoods

Initiative (WLI) during the first quarter of the year (October – December 2013). The goal of the

WLI is to improve the livelihoods of rural households and communities in areas where water

scarcity, land degradation, water quality deterioration, food security, and health problems are

prevalent in the seven participating countries, focusing initially on selected benchmark sites in

Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. The main objective is to

develop and pilot test integrated water, land-use and livelihoods strategy in the benchmark sites

for scaling out and up.

Research activities both at the basin and farm level were executed during the quarter in line with

workplans approved for the year bringing a total of 1,913 ha of land under improved technologies

or management practices. Basin level research carried out in the quarter include modeling of the

irrigation system in Egypt, calibration of the SWAT model in Jordan, monitoring of groundwater

resources in Yemen, water accounting of the Orontes river in Syria, and development of soil and

land suitability maps in Iraq. At the farm level research at the benchmark sites focused on

improving water productivity and soil management by pilot testing various water and land

management strategies including introduction of silage and hydroponic production systems, water

harvesting, deficit and supplemental irrigation, use of agralic for protected agriculture, and seeking

alternative income generating opportunities to reduce continued pressure on natural resources.

The Initiative’s 5th

Regional Coordination Meeting also took place during the quarter bringing

together all of WLI’s partners to appraise the progress made during the previous year and decide

on workplans for the coming year. Three regional thematic groups were activated at the meeting

and each has begun to work with their respective groups to formulate concrete plans of action.

Capacity building efforts focused on disseminating improved technologies to farmers through

field days in Syria and Yemen; and facilitating Post-Doc opportunities for researchers from

National Agricultural Research and Extension Services (NARES) to work with partnering

institutions such as the United States Department of Agriculture’s –Agricultural Research Service

(USDA-ARS). WLI partners are also working towards publishing their work in national, regional

and international journals to share their findings with the international scientific community.

Challenges encountered during the quarter mainly relate to security concerns in Egypt, Syria,

Tunisia, and Yemen that prevented researchers from conducting field visits as often as they would

like.

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Introduction

The report presents a summary of achievements of the WLI team during the first quarter of the

year (October –December 2013). The goal of the WLI is to improve the livelihoods of rural

households and communities in areas where water scarcity, land degradation, water quality

deterioration, food security and health problems are prevalent in the seven participating

countries1, focusing initially on selected benchmark sites in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,

Palestine, Syria and Yemen (See Figure 1). The main objective is to develop and pilot test

integrated water, land-use and livelihoods strategies in selected benchmark sites for scaling out

and scaling up.

Figure 1: WLI benchmark sites in the seven partnering countries

The WLI is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and

managed by ICARDA. Research activities at the respective benchmark sites are led by the

National Agricultural Research and Extension Services (NARES). Other partners include a

consortium of US universities including Texas A&M (TAMU), University of California – Davis

(UC Davis), University of Florida (UF), and University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC);

United States Department of Agriculture –Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS); as well

the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

The Initiatives 5th Regional Coordination Meeting was held during November 4-6, 2013 in Jordan

to appraise the progress made by WLI partners during the year, to exchange knowledge on state of

the art technologies in water and land management, to refine WLI’s research plans for 2014 and

1 Tunisia will become the eighth WLI country in 2013

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align them with on-going changes within ICARDA and the region, and to refine and establish

clear terms of reference for regional thematic areas of research. The meeting was attended by

representatives from all partnering national and international partners (with the exception of Syria

who did not receive travel approvals on time), USAID, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation–

Jordan, Mercy Corps - Jordan (MC) – a potential partner for WLI, and selected scientists from

ICARDA.

Regional thematic groups also conducted various preparatory works to execute plans that were

agreed upon during the 5th

regional coordination meeting. Thematic groups on water productivity

and cost-benefit analysis, and socio-economics are organizing workshops on “Economics of

Natural Resource Management” and “Impact Pathways and Theories of Change” respectively.

Activities planned for the quarter were executed by the team and the achievements made are

summarized in this report in relation to the Initiative’s three anticipated outputs:

1. Integrated water and land-use strategies for policy-making, tools for sustainable

benchmark management and organizational mechanisms for community inclusion at the

benchmark site.

2. Enhanced knowledge, skills and qualifications for key stakeholders in the benchmark sites.

3. Improved rural livelihoods of farmers in the benchmark sites through the adoption of

sustainable land and water management practices and livelihood strategies.

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Egypt

Overview

The WLI in Egypt aims to improve livelihoods of households and communities in the Nile Delta,

which represents the major agricultural region in Egypt (about 70% of the agricultural area)

focusing on three benchmark sites located in old lands, salt-affected lands, and new lands (see

Figure 2 below). The project seeks to improve rural livelihoods by promoting sustainable land and

water management practices in line with national strategies on agricultural development and water

resource management. Specifically, the project focuses on assessing the sustainability of water and

land use under irrigated agriculture in the Nile Delta sub-sites for scaling-up. The goal is pursued

through a collaborative effort involving key partners including the National Water Resource

Center (NWRC); Agricultural Research Center (ARC); American university in Cairo (AUC); and

Faculties of Agriculture in Ain Shams, Cairo, Banha and Zagazig Universities.

Figure 2: WLI benchmark sites in Egypt

1. Integrated water and land-use strategies

Basin scale strategies

During the reporting period the team continued their work in assessing performance, efficiency,

inequity in water distribution, water quality deterioration and poor irrigation drainage management

at the tertiary canal command area of 735 feddan in Damanhour (Old Land). Specifically, the team

focused on analyzing data collected during previous quarters on:

a) Soil and farm surveys to study crop patterns for summer seasons at each mesqa and their

potential impact on water consumption

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b) Pump operation study specifically looking at irrigation time and equity of distributions, as

well as water use/irrigation efficiency (Water Use Index at the mesqa level)

c) Canal and drain monitoring study which covers performance of the delivery system

(branch canals and mesqas) and drain flows and water quality (canal and drain) including

groundwater levels and temperatures

Results of the analysis are currently being compiled into a scientific report which is expected to be

finalized in the second quarter.

On-farm improvements

Phase II of the research on soil degradation continued with data collection and analysis using soil

compaction measuring device secured through Phase I of the research and revised questionnaire to

capture additional information. Expected output from this activity include – literature review on

soil compaction (reasons and impacts) and a scientific paper based on the perception of farmers

toward soil compaction problems in the Old Land.

A study on the effect of water constraints on crop choice and farmers income in the Thiba

irrigation scheme was also conducted particularly looking at adequacy (quantity is enough to meet

crop requirement), timeliness (water is available when needed), predictability (crop choice and

management can be planned based on reasonable expectations), and the collective impact on crop

choice and subsequently farm income. Preliminary results of the research indicate that quality of

water supplied to a particular farm depends on its location within the network with farmers at the

tail end of the canal receiving less and poorer quality water than those located at the upper end.

Other factors that influenced quantity and quality of water received included: (i) power cuts which

affect the main pumping station and the electricity networks of the collective pumps, (ii) physical

illegal intervention on the irrigation infrastructure to increase water supply, (ii) social influence of

the control of infrastructure and application of the official rotation between the sub-branches of

the branch canal including favoritism, bribes, etc. The trend was also reflected in the net revenue

of the respective farmers along the canal. It showed that head-end location allowed a mean net

revenue of 5,077 $/ha, while those in downstream locations faced a loss of 3,711 and 3,961 $/ha

for respectively middle-end and tail-end locations. Results of the study are expected to be

published as a research report as well as a journal article.

2. Enhancing knowledge, skills and qualifications of key stakeholders in the benchmark

sites

Two training courses were under preparation during the quarter namely training on “Operation,

evaluation and maintenance of the on-farm irrigation and drainage systems under saline

conditions” and “Integrated soil and water management under saline conditions”. The first one is

being organized by Ain-Shams University while the second is led by the Agricultural Research

Center (ARC). Final dates of the trainings will be announced shortly.

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Iraq

Overview

Located west of Baghdad, Abu Ghraib represents one of WLI’s irrigated benchmark sites. Barley,

wheat, maize, Berseem, and alfalfa are among the commonly grown crops in the area using

irrigation water from the Euphrates River. Perennial cultivation of orchards and vegetables and

animal production are also important aspects of rural life and income in the project area. Irrigation

related concerns in the area include low water productivity, inefficient irrigation systems,

declining water quality, and shortage in water resources due to climate change, inappropriate

management of natural resources, and new dams developed in Turkey and Syria.

Partnering with the Office of Agricultural Research (OAR) in the Ministry of Agriculture, WLI-

Iraq focuses on improving rural livelihoods by introducing proven and new water and land

management strategies that increase water use efficiency, yield, and household income.


Community and Basin scale strategies

During the first quarter of 2014, the team began preparations of new activities. Towards this end

the team started to develop suitability maps that reflect the distribution of soil microorganisms

intended to reduce fertilizer applications and estimate water requirement for different crops.

Digital suitability maps are developed using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information

System (GIS) to determine land suitability for the production of selected crops in the benchmark

area. The maps will be developed by integrating soil microbiological data with GIS maps and will

be used to identify the intensity of beneficial microbes (bacteria and fungi), and determine the

appropriate amount of mineral fertilizers required thereby avoiding over-application of fertilizers

and reducing the cost of inputs for farmers. Soil samples from 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth were

taken and are being analyzed in soil labs.

During the quarter the team collected data on dominant soil types including their physical and

chemical characteristics, climatic data for the region, as well as soil, water and climate

requirements for selected crops (wheat, barley and alfalfa). These will be followed by correlation

maps that link land suitability, crop production, and water requirements. Identification of key

indicators of water productivity assessment, key constraints in water productivity that can be

addressed through technological interventions, comparison of different on-farm cropping systems,

assessment of traditional water management practices including irrigation techniques are also

underway.


A study on the effect of applying surface and sub-surface drip irrigation and white Agralic screen

(Agral 17) in increasing water productivity, and cucumber yield under protected agriculture began

in October 2013. The experiment was set up on farmers’ fields in Hactria and Share districts in

Abu Ghraib, where one of the greenhouses were covered with Agral 17 screen and the other was

not (Figures 3-4). Surface and sub-surface drip irrigation were applied in both sites in three

intervals (3rd

, 4th

and 5th

day). Analysis of data collected will be reported in subsequent progress

reports.

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Figures 3 and 4: Application of surface and sub-surface drip irrigation and white Agralic screen to

increase water productivity and cucumber yield


sites

The team organized a field day for 16 local farmers to demonstrate the benefits of using sub-

surface drip irrigation to grow vegetables under protected agriculture (Figure 5). Results of

previous experiments including water saving and demonstrated increases in yield were shared.

Detailed information on how to set up the system were also provided.

Figure 5: field demonstration on sub-surface drip irrigation under protected agriculture

3. Improved rural livelihoods through sustainable land and water management

practices

2014 plans to assess potential economic benefits of using improved water management strategies

for rural households are expected to begin in the second quarter following the planned training on

Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) currently scheduled for March 2014.

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Jordan

Overview

Located in Jordan’s transitional Badia, the Muhareb watershed represents one of WLI’s rangeland

benchmark site and covers a total of 60 km2 (Figure 6). Partnering with the National Center for

Agricultural Research and Extension (NCARE) as well as the University of Jordan (UJ), WLI-

Jordan focuses on improving rural livelihoods by pilot testing and introducing proven water and

land management strategies to ensure efficient use of scarce and fragile natural resources, while

reversing or curtailing their continued degradation.

Figure 6: WLI’s Muharib benchmark site in Jordan



Research in watershed modeling, monitoring, and management continued during the reporting

period. Specific activities conducted include, calibration of the model using Soil Water Analysis

Tool (SWAT) cup, data collection, modification of parameters used in the model to suit dry

conditions in the Badia, and out-scaling of pilot tested and proven water harvesting technologies

to North Jordan. Among outscaled technologies are the vallerani contour ridges, stone walls,

ponds, water spreading, and ponds.

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sites

Ms. Lubna Mahasneh, MA student from JU continued her work in calibrating the SWAT model to

predict the impacts of water harvesting interventions on bio-physical and hydrological parameters

and test its applicability to similar arid environments. Ms Luban also assisted in training fellow

researchers from NCARE and ICARDA on how to install various instruments to ensure accurate

data collection.

Efforts to integrate a gender dimension in local women based Community Based Organizations

(CBOs) continued within the socio-economic component. Training in Agricultural Marketing and

Basic Introduction to Informational Technologies (IT) were provided to 21 members of three

CBOs participating in the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), supported by a separate grant

provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The CBOs

including the Ngera Cooperative for Social and Charitable Causes, the Mawakeb Al-Noor Women

Cooperative for charitable Causes, and Al-Khudair Women Cooperative for Social Development,

are part of the MEPI project: “Peer to Peer training to promote Participation and Prosperity”. The

training is anticipated to enhance women’s ability to generate off-farm income and contribute

towards improvement of their families’ livelihoods.

Figure 7: Dr. Samia Akroosh training women members of three local CBOs

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Lebanon

Overview

The WLI benchmark site in Lebanon is located in the El Qaa village in the Northern Beka’a valley

– source of the Orontes River (Figure 8) where agriculture is the main source of livelihoods.

Major challenges in the sector relate to scarcity of water, access to affordable inputs, and access to

sufficient market. Partnering with the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) as well as

the American University of Beirut (AUB), WLI-Lebanon focuses on improving rural livelihoods

by introducing proven and new water and land management strategies that increase water use

efficiency, yield, and household income.

Figure 8: WLI’s El Qaa benchmark site in Lebanon


Basin level activities conducted during the quarter include measuring the discharge of several

water sources along the Orontes River inorer to estimate the water budget between water sources

and water availability at the benchmark site throughout the growing season; modeling water

management in the watershed to determine the water allocation between different sectors;

comparison of local and imported grapevine varieties in North Beka; intensive cultivation of early,

late and industrial aproicot varieties; and integrated pest management of main crops in the El Qaa

region. Towards this end, the team completed a number of specific tasks including taking weekly

measurements of water flow and other climatic data, choosing appropriate model to capture

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different scenarios, planting and application of fertilizers, and evaluation of sanitary status of

apple trees in Qaa and its surroundings.


Activities at the farm level focused on rainwater micro-harvesting techniques where the team

continued to pilot test the najarims to increase water availability at the household level.

Demonstration trials were also conducted to test new realesd varieties of wheat, barley, and

chickpeas in the El Qaa’a region. The site for the experiment was selected in September 2013 (3

dunums) and planted during November 15-December 15, 2013. The varieties introduced include

durum wheat (Berdawni – Mikii3, Ghzayel (Icarasha 2, Lahn2, Massara and Tal Amara 3), barley

(Rihan 03, Litani, Shams, Acsad 1420, Assi and Faiiz), and chickpea (Ghab 5, Flip 97-7, Balila 2,

and Flip 97-706C).

Another activity conducted by the team is Conservation Agriculture (CA) or zero-tillage. Towards

this end the team selected the site (farmers’ fields) and planted barley (Lahn variety) on two plots

to compare and demonstrate the effect of CA in stimulating and improving the soil quality and

total yield.

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Palestine

Overview

WLI benchmark sites in the West Bank are located in Tammun (Eastern slope) and Hebron (South

Western of the Central highlands). The sites are predominantly characterized as rangelands with

minimal rainfed agriculture. The project led by the National Agricultural Research Center

(NARC) also fosters good collaboration with the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ),

Land Research Center (LRC), Hebron University (HU) and various Farmers’ Associations. In line

with the national objectives of the country to ensure water availability, land fertility, and food

security - the WLI team is engaged in pilot testing integrated water and land management

strategies as means to improve rural livelihoods.

Figure 9: WLI’s benchmark sites in Palestine



A number of activities were conducted during the reporting period to improve on farm

management of water and land resources. These include introduction of silage and hydroponic

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production systems, water harvesting, and efforts to rehabilitate degraded areas. The team worked

with farmers and animal breeders in Nassarya and Tamun to produce and process four tons of

silage as a complimentary activity with another USAID funded project which had the necessary

equipment to process and compress the silage. The collaboration also helped the team to establish

8 units of hydroponic culture to produce more than two tons of barley. The silage and barley

produced were used by four animal breeders. A total of 0.9 ha of land in Nassaryah and Atuf,

previously planted with shrubs for fodder, were rehabilitated through various interventions

including repair of damaged terraces.

A large soil pond (20X 2 m) was constructed on farmer’s land in Atuf village (Figure 10).

Collected water was used to irrigate 2-4 dunums of land and grow wheat. The team plans to plant

vegetables in the pond during the summer period.

Figure 10: Large soil pond constructed in Atuf village during the quarter

A survey to track the number of farmers who have adopted and planted new risk reducing varieties

of wheat was also conducted during this period. Preliminary results of the survey indicate that

more than 150 dunums (15 ha) of land owned by 30 farmers in Atuf and Tammun are currently

planted with drought resistant wheat varieties promoted through the WLI. The team plans to

encourage adoption of this wheat variety in other areas.

2. Enhancing Knowledge, skills and qualifications for key stakeholders in the

benchmark sites

A coordination meeting was held at the LRC in Hebron where WLI teams from partnering

institutions including Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem (ARIJ), Land Research Center

(LRC), and National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) met to discuss the 2014 workplan and

agree on specific tasks to be accomplished by the respective institutions.

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Syria

Overview

1. Integrated water and land-use strategy

Community and basin scale strategy

Research on water accounting of the Orontes River (Syria to Turkish border) continued during the

reporting period. The research is conducted by two PhD students, Tammam Yaghe and Ammar

Abbas from Aleppo University, who are also co-supervised by scientists from ICARDA and the

General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR). Tammam’s research focuses

on “Water Accounting System (WAS) and Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) 21 Program

for rationalization of water resources utilization in the upper and midmost Orontes Basins –

Syria”, while Ammar explores “Strategies of Water resources management in the lower Orontes

basin downstream using techniques of modeling”. During the quarter, both students continued to

collect their data and finalize their literature reviews.


Experiments at the Muktaria station continued during the reporting period focusing on deficit

irrigation using drip irrigation to grow sorghum. Activities undertaken include: monitoring soil

moisture during the growing period, and covering the panicles during the genetic growth period to

obtain clean seeds and prevent attack from birds (Figure 1). The sorghum was harvested on

October 7 and 8 of 2013. Collected samples were taken for further analysis. A report on yield,

water use, etc. was compiled in Arabic and will be translated into English and submitted in the

next quarter. Another experiment was conducted at Jub Ramleh in Al Ghab region where

sorghum, millet and corn were planted to provide animal feed for integrated plant-livestock

production under the supervision of Dr. Waseem Adlah (Table).

Table 1: Anise yield (kg/ha) under different treatments (2012/2013)

Replicate Control 06% 06% 06% 066%

R1 7600 0066 6000 6000 7806

R2 7046 0606 6000 6046 6866

R3 0046 6006 0746 6066 0066

An experiment on anise seeds was also conducted during this period where the team applied 60%,

70%, 80% 80% and 100% of full water requirements and compared the results with a control site

which was not irrigated (rainfed). See Tables 2 and 3 below. The same experiment was replicated

at the end of the year using the same experimental design but using surface irrigation in three

replicates.

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Table 2: Sorghum Panicles yield and % seeds in panicles (2013 season)

treatment Replicates Kg/ha Average

Kg/ha 1 2 3 4

100 2114 2914 2400 1186 2429

80 1714 1886 2000 1429 1757

60 1143 1371 1280 1771 1441

control 1828 2457 2743 2228 2314

Table 3: Sorghum Yield and its relation with water use (2013 season)

Tre

atm

ent

Water use

m3/ha

Water applied m3/ha

Nu

mb

er o

f

irri

gati

on

Net

irr

m3/h

a

yie

ld

kg/h

a

Ap

pli

ed

Eff

icie

ncy

%

WUE kg/m3 WUE kg/m3

Water

applied in

each

irrigation

Irrigation Effective

depth Rain Total

Effective

depth

Net Total Net Total Net Actual Net Actual 0.45 0.75

100 4157 4637 3516 3995 804 295 4615 7 502 2429 88 0.58 0.52 0.69 0.61 422 682

80 3834 4217 2805 3188 804 295 3904 7 401 1757 88 0.46 0.42 0.63 0.55 338 546

60 3233 3515 2069 2351 804 295 3168 7 296 1441 88 0.45 0.41 0.7 0.61 253 409

Control 4098 5270 3516 4688 804 295 4615 7 502 2314 75 0.56 0.44 0.66 0.49 490 800

At Al Ghab the four medicinal crops the team experimented with in previous quarters i.e.

Foeniculum vulgare, Anise, Nigella sativa, and Trigonella foenum-graecum were re-planted using

supplemental irrigation. Results from this experiment will be compared with the crops grown

under rainfed conditions. Soil samples from the field were collected on November 10, 2013.

2. Enhancing Knowledge, skills and qualifications for key stakeholders in the

benchmark sites

A field day was organized in Al-Muktaria station on October 7, 2013 to demonstrate to a number

of engineers, extension agents, and farmers the benefits of using deficit irrigation as compared to

full irrigation including increased yield, lower weed presence, and water saving.

3. Improved rural livelihoods though sustainable land and water management practices

In line with the recommendations of the Socio-Economic Characterization Study, the team

continued to explore and introduce alternative income generating options. According to the report

63% of the women in the benchmark sites grow and prepare medicinal and aromatic plants in their

home gardens, while 28% of women collect these plants from the wild. The team is promoting

production of these medicinal plants in small plots of land using drip irrigation techniques. In the

reporting quarter, medicinal crops were planted by farmers in the community as high value cash

crops that can increase household income. The socio-economic team, led by Dr. Moammar Dayoub,

is actively working towards publishing a study based on the socio-economic survey conducted in

previous quarters.

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Tunisia

Overview

The agricultural sector accounts for 83% of annual water consumption in Tunisia. Water

availability in 2005 was estimated at 430 m3 per capita a level that is much lower than the per

capita consumption level in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This is expected to

decline further due to Climate Change (CC) and unsustainable water management practices. WLI

in Tunisia works on three sites along a South-North water scarcity transect and aims to improve

rural livelihoods through improved water management and agricultural production systems by

pilot testing and out-scaling proven CC adaptation strategies and assessing the costs and benefits

of improved interventions. The project’s objective is effectively aligned with national climate

change adaptation strategies that, among other things, aim to improve water productivity and save

water.

1. Integrated water and land use strategies


During the quarter the team continued their efforts to explore available downscaled Global

Climate Change (GCC) models and assess their relevance to conditions in the respective research

areas. Collaboration with the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) out of the

United Arab Emirates (UAE) is also being pursued to access statistical and dynamic data they are

currently downloading. Three scenarios 2020-2030, 2050-2060, and 2090-2100 have been

identified and will be used to integrate future altered climatic conditions (CO2, temperature, etc.).

Efforts are also underway to model the different production systems and to identify effects of

altered conditions and to generate outputs that will serve as inputs for economic assessments. The

following models were identified.

CropSyst was identified as the most plausible model for cropping system responses. The model

had already been parameterized and used in Tunisia to simulate wheat and barley production

(Belhouchette et al. 2008). A first attempt to use the model to simulate barley yield at governorate

scale was made in Sidi Bouzid.

The SWAT model was selected for water harvesting and watershed management options. The

model has already been tested and adapted in the study site of southern Tunisia (Ouessar et. Al.

2009). Through the WLI, the team is exploring possibilities of coupling the model with other

climate models such as SWAT and MODFLOW in order to assess the impact of climate change.

Aquacrop was chosen as a promising model that can be used as a planning tool that can assist in

management decisions for both irrigated and rainfed agriculture. The model differs from other

crop models in its focus on water, use of ground canopy cover instead of leaf area index, and the

use of water productivity values normalized for atmospheric evaporative demand and of carbon

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dioxide concentration. Such features give the model additional extrapolation capacity to consider

various locations and seasons, including future climate scenarios.

The team also reviewed and updated available GIS datasets on land cover, topography, drainage

basins, water resources, etc. Different maps on water and soil resources, as well as land use in the

study area were generated. Needs for additional database, analyses of satellite imagery, estimation

of and extent and location for implementation of selected adaption practices were also identified.

These will, at a later stage, be linked with results from pilot tested water management

interventions.

On-farm level strategies

Field testing sites, both for the rainfed and irrigated agriculture, were identified by the three teams

(Table 4).

Table 4: Technologies under pilot-testing in WLI sites

Sites

Technologies under pilot-testing

Northern Site Supplemental irrigation of wheat (Morneg and Zaghouan) and deficit

irrigation of citrus (Nabeul).

Central Tunisia Five adaptation strategies are being tested:

(i) Alley cropping (barley and cactus) and livestock,

(ii) Cactus and livestock

(iii) Barley under supplemental irrigation and livestock

(iv) Olive trees and livestock

(v) Olive trees, barley, and livestock

Southern Site (i) Irrigation mangement with saline water

(ii) Deficit irrigation

(iii) Supplemental irrigation for drought control

(iv) Water harvesting

(v) Groundwater recharge


sites

An in-country collaborative meeting was organized by the Institute of Arid Aregions-Medenine

(IRA) and held on 12 November 2014 in order to discuss progress made and to facilitate future

collaborations. The meeting was attended by the Mr. Kristofer Dodge, the WLI manager, and

representatives of the three partnering institutions, Regional Department of Agriculture,

collaborating farmers, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

Three candidates were identified to work with scientists from the United Sates Department of

Agriculture – Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS). These include Dr. Mohamed Annabi

from the National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia (INRAT), Ms Fathia EL Mokh

from IRA and Mr. Nabil Sghaier from the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT). Dr.

Annabi began his 6 month post-doc placement in the reporting quarter at the Forage Crop

20

Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Prosser, WA. Dr. Annabi will be working with Dr. Ashok Alva on

“Effects of Climate Change on Tunisian Agriculture: modeling soil and crop parameters”.

Ms. Fathia has presented a research proposal on “Irrigation Management and Crop Water

Modeling”. Ms. Fathia will participate in field studies of cotton crop evaporation, transpiration,

evapotranspiration, physiological development, crop yield and quality and crop water productivity

under sprinkler and subsurface drip irrigation and obtain training on field measurement

techniques. The collected data will be used to calibrate, test, and compare crop models (Aquacrop,

CropSyst, and DSSAT); and simulate crop yield and crop water productivity under different

irrigation management techniques and climate change scenarios. The proposed research will

contribute towards a PhD degree at INAT, and is intended to complement the Soil and Water

Management Research Unit CRIS project 6209-13000-014-00, “Improving Water Productivity

and New Water Management Technologies to Sustain Rural Economies”, which is part of NP 211,

Water Availability and Watershed Management. Ms. Fathia is expected to complete her process of

admission and begin her 6 month placement in April 2014 at the Conservation and Production

Research Laboratory (USDA-ARS, Bushland, Texas) with Dr. Paul D. Colaizzi.

Mr. Nabil Sghaier from INAT has submitted a statement of Research Interest for post-doc

placement at ARS at the USDA Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory in Beltsville,

Maryland to work on: “Effects of Climate Change on Tunisia’s Water Resources: Detection,

Adaptation, and Mitigation”. It is anticipated that the research will be linked with an on-going

project “Addressing water management through NASA earth observation” currently implemented

in Tunisia in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),

USDA-ARS, and collaborating universities http://oas.gsfc.nasa.gov/MenaWisp/.


practices

The team designed and tested a questionnaire for a survey to be conducted in Zoghmar (Site 3).

The first part of the questionnaire will focus on collecting information on the gross margin per

capita of different crops and livestock while the second part will be used to assess effects of

climate change on land use, and approaches for adaptation. The survey will thus be useful to

determine farm incomes of different productions systems, compare incomes between the baseline

production system (barley and livestock) and alternatives for adaptation. Data collected will be

useful in quantifying benefits in their calculation of benefit/cost ratio. A sample of 100 households

was stratified among different production systems, farm types, and zones. The analysis is

underway.

The team also conducted a separate review of available methodologies and assessment

frameworks concerning quantification of water-related agro-ecosystem services.

http://oas.gsfc.nasa.gov/MenaWisp/

21

Yemen

Overview

WLI in Yemen operates in the Abyan Delta predominantly supported through a spate irrigated

system. Challenges in the area include groundwater depletion, over-extraction of water for cash

cropping, inequitable distribution of flood water and technical constraints connected with the spate

system itself including annual deterioration of irrigation infrastructure by flood waters. Partnering

with the Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA) and the National Water

Resources Authority (NWRA), WLI focuses on promoting pilot tested technologies that promote

better management of water and land resources to improve rural livelihoods in the area.

1. Integrated water and land use strategies


During the reporting period the team focused on monitoring groundwater resources including

conducting chemical analysis in the Abyan Delta; continued their research on the effects of

terrorism on the livelihoods of rural households in general and the agricultural sector in particular;

as well as a study on opportunities of improvement and activation of spate irrigation system with

participation of water user associations in the Delta.

At the field level

Field level activities focused on dissemination of pilot tested and proven technologies including

supplemental irrigation techniques for spate irrigated sesame and lipid forage (Cenchrus Ciliaris).

Four farmers were identified during the quarter to adopt the proposed technologies.

At the socio-economic level they conducted an initial assessment of potential impacts of improved

water productivity on livelihoods, and assessed the role of associations in managing agro-

ecosystems, and assessed indigenous knowledge and social norms in the management of agro-

ecosystems.


practices

The team continued data collection related to estimation of economic return of main cultivated

crops in the Abyan Delta such as average productivity, farm price, average revenue, and average

annual cost for the base year and total direct costs.

22

WLI 5th Regional Coordination Meeting

The 5th

WLI Annual Coordination Meeting was organized to appraise the research progress made

by partnering countries, to exchange knowledge on state of the art technologies in water and land

management, to refine WLI’s research plans for 2014 and align them with on-going changes

within ICARDA and the region, and to refine and establish clear terms of reference for regional

thematic areas of research. The meeting was attended by representatives from the United States

Agency for International Development (USAID), WLI’s research teams in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,

Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, and Yemen; partnering Regional and US Universities including

University of Florida (UF), University of California-Davis (UCD), the American University of

Beirut (AUB), and Jordan University (JU); experts from the United States Department of

Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS); Ministry of Water –Jordan; Mercy

Corps (MC) – a potential partner for WLI; and selected scientists from ICARDA. All the

PowerPoint presentations used during the meeting can be accessed through the WLI website

http://icarda.org/wli/reports_RegionalCoordinationMeetings.html

Other Activities

Field visits

Mr. Kristofer Dodge, the new WLI Manager visited the benchmark sites in Tunisia, the West

Bank and Egypt during the reporting period in order to follow up on program implementations and

to discuss and finalize proposed workplans for the year.

Partnerships and Collaborative Efforts:

Collaboration efforts with the USDA-ARS has resulted in a six months placement of a post-

doctoral scientist – Dr. Mohamed Annabi from the National Institute for Agricultural Research of

Tunisia (INRAT) to work with Dr. Ashok Alva on “Effects of Climate Change on Tunisian

Agriculture: modeling soil and crop parameters” at the Forage Crop Research Unit, USDA-ARS,

Prosser, WA. Two other students from the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT) are

also making similar arrangements to work with researchers in USDA-ARS.

Resource Mobilization:

A joint proposal was developed by WLI and Mercy Corps (MC) Jordan towards the Request for

Proposal (RFP) issued by USAID under “Securing Water for Food in Jordan”. The proposal is

built upon the partnership between ICARDA and MC to use their respective strengths to scale out

proven water and land management strategies to the three agricultural ecosystems in Jordan

including the Badia, the Jordan Valley, and the Highlands.

http://icarda.org/wli/reports_RegionalCoordinationMeetings.html

23

Appendix 1: Report on Selected FtF Indicators

Indicator / Disaggregation Reporting Period (October –December 2013)

Egypt Iraq Jordan Lebanon Palestine Syria Tunisia Yemen

4.5.2(2): Number of hectares under improved technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance

Technology type

Crop and /or animal genetics 215 15 1 2

Pest and/or disease management 50

Climate mitigation or adaptation 1 0.8 1 11

Land management 2 1 8

soil-related 235 1 1 3

conservation agriculture 5

Water management 1080 238 2 1 13

Irrigation 0.5 1 10 6

Water harvesting 1 7

Post-harvest handling and storage

processing

Fishing gear/technique

Association-applied

Other 1

Total w/one or more improved technology 1530 0.5 240 54 17.8 6 57 8

Disaggregates Not Available

New/Continuing

New 0.5 2 3

Continuing 1530 240 52 14.8 6 57 8


Sex of landowners

Male 0.5 54 30 1 25 8

Female

Association-applied

Disaggregates Not Available 1530 240

4.5.2(5): Number of farmers and others who have applied new technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance

New/Continuing

New 7 10 8

Continuing 900 1 62 20 30 3 18 8


24

Sex

Male 700 1 62 25 11 18 8

Female 200 15

Disaggregates Not Available 27

4.5.2(7): Number of individuals who have received USG supported short-term agricultural sector productivity or food security training

Type of individual

Producers 16 25

People in government

People in private sector firms

People in civil society


Sex

Male 16 15

Female 10


4.5.2(11): Number of food security private enterprises (for profit), producers organizations, water users associations, women's groups, trade and business associations, and

community-based organizations (CBOs) receiving USG assistance

Type of organization

Private enterprises (for profit)

Producers organizations 6 1 1 1 1

Water users associations 1 1 1

Women's groups 1 2 1 2

Trade and business associations

Community-based organizations (CBOs) 3


New/Continuing

New 1

Continuing 6 1 5 2 2 3 2


4.5.2(34): Number of stakeholders implementing risk-reducing practices/actions to improve resilience to climate change as a result of USG assistance

Type of Risk reducing practice

Agriculture 700 7 30 2 28

Water 39 20 2 3

Health

Disaster Risk Management

Urban


Sex

Male 550 39 26 22 4 29

25

Female 150 1 8 2


4.5.2(39): Number of new technologies or management practices in one of the following phases of development: (Phase I/II/III)

Phase 1: Number of new technologies or management

practices

\ under research as a result of USG assistance

2 1 5 6 4 6


practices under field testing as a result of USG

assistance

2 1 5 5 2 6


practices made available for transfer as a result of

USG assistance 3 5 6 8 1

6

Disaggregates Not Available 3

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