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Role of Virtual Water in Optimizing Water Resources Management in Jordan

Author

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  • Taleb Abu-Sharar
  • Emad Al-Karablieh
  • Munther Haddadin

Abstract

Role of virtual water (VW) in optimizing water resources management in Jordan, a far water-short country, was explored by calculating VW content of imported commodities and their costs. Feasibility of farming and water required to produce all crops growing in Jordan were evaluated using net return per unit volume of water and VW embedded in unit mass of production. The results of these analyses showed that there were regional differences in crop profitability and thus net return from unit volume of irrigation water. This was attributed to variations in agro-climatic zones punctuated by production and irrigation technologies and access to water resources. In this regard, opportunity cost of water should be considered when allocating water to different consumption sectors. Agricultural systems generating net profits less than an arbitrary limit of $1.0 m −3 of irrigation water and producing yield at water use efficiency of 50–60 m 3 ton −1 or more were viewed not feasible. The key challenge facing decision makers would be to ensure that the opportunity cost of water was incorporated into the analysis process when determining future cropping pattern. Such a cost of water should be combined with crop-embedded VW analysis and expected net return from unit volume of irrigation water. Therefore, water allocation mechanism (e.g. water market) need to be developed for more efficient water use than the commonly practiced farm quota. Optimization of the usage of the limited water resources can be envisaged by continuous imports of VW, especially that embedded in cereal, oil, meat, live animals and sugar. Appropriate amendment of water legislations and concerned institutions are encouraged to provide better guidelines to policy makers, water managers, extension and advisory services, water use associations and farmers. Optimization of water resources management could be based on contract farming to ensure that water allocation and cropping pattern respond to water scarcity. Furthermore, Jordan should concentrate on production and export of crops having low VW contents and high return per m 3 . Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

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  • Taleb Abu-Sharar & Emad Al-Karablieh & Munther Haddadin, 2012. "Role of Virtual Water in Optimizing Water Resources Management in Jordan," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(14), pages 3977-3993, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:26:y:2012:i:14:p:3977-3993
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-012-0116-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Xia, Wenjun & Chen, Xiaohong & Song, Chao & Pérez-Carrera, Alejo, 2022. "Driving factors of virtual water in international grain trade: A study for belt and road countries," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    3. Guangyao Deng & Liujuan Wang & Yanan Song, 2015. "Effect of Variation of Water-Use Efficiency on Structure of Virtual Water Trade - Analysis Based on Input–Output Model," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 29(8), pages 2947-2965, June.
    4. Gutiérrez-Gómez, Celia & Carrillo-Avila, Eugenio & Landeros-Sánchez, Cesáreo & Coh-Méndez, Domingo & Monsalvo-Espinosa, Avelardo & Arreola-Enríquez, Jesús & Pimentel-López, José, 2018. "Soil moisture tension as an alternative for improving sustainable use of irrigation water for habanero chilies (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 28-37.
    5. Jorge Alejandro Silva Rodríguez de San Miguel, 2015. "Referentes conceptuales para la integración de un modelo de gobernanza del agua," Revista Lebret, Universidad Santo Tomás - Bucaramanga, vol. 7, pages 21-35, December.
    6. Maria J. Beltrán & Esther Velázquez, 2015. "The Political Ecology of Virtual Water in Southern Spain," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(5), pages 1020-1036, September.
    7. Castro Campos, Bente & Ren, Yanjun & Loy, Jens-Peter, 2020. "Scarce water resources and cereal import dependency: The role of integrated water resources management," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 12(6).
    8. Alamilla-Magaña, J.C. & Carrillo-Ávila, E. & Obrador-Olán, J.J. & Landeros-Sánchez, C. & Vera-Lopez, J. & Juárez-López, J.F., 2016. "Soil moisture tension effect on sugar cane growth and yield," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 264-273.
    9. Eduardo Araral & Yahua Wang, 2013. "Water Governance 2.0: A Review and Second Generation Research Agenda," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 27(11), pages 3945-3957, September.
    10. Wasi Ul Hassan Shah & Yuting Lu & Gang Hao & Hong Yan & Rizwana Yasmeen, 2022. "Impact of “Three Red Lines” Water Policy (2011) on Water Usage Efficiency, Production Technology Heterogeneity, and Determinant of Water Productivity Change in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-23, December.

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