Jordan faces acute water scarcity. As part of its effort to grow more food with less water while strengthening farm incomes and climate resilience, the country is pioneering a data-driven approach to optimize water use in agriculture. A new initiative, led by FAO and the EBRD, combines satellite imagery with farm-level economic data, providing practical solutions to maximize the value of every drop of water,

Launched at a workshop in Amman, the study brings together government, academia, researchers, farmers and private sector players. Using FAO’s WaPOR tool, which tracks crop water use via satellite every ten days, the study focuses on citrus farming as a test case, as citrus is a high-value crop where quality, market access and production costs are as critical as yield.

The initiative introduces Economic Irrigation Water Productivity analysis, linking remote sensing with ground-level data on farm practices, costs and efficiency. Preliminary findings reveal significant differences in water efficiency and profitability across farms, influenced by irrigation methods, tree density and market conditions. The integrated approach helps identify where water investments yield the highest returns, guiding smarter policies and technical support.

International insights and real-life examples from Morocco and the West Bank further enriched the dialogue, highlighting how better practices can help reduce water use while increasing farmer incomes. Next steps include on-farm data collection, refining methodologies and expanding partnerships with national stakeholders to scale the impact.

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