Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To develop and improve water management models and irrigation scheduling practices at both the field and watershed scale in the United States and the Middle East. Approach (from AD-416) In conjunction with the Department of State, conduct necessary theoretical and applied research, and build capacity through necessary education and training; thereby, establishing the technological and human infrastructure required to achieve long-term change in water conservation in the Middle East. Formal collaborative agreements (SCAs) will be established with regional partners that include the National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (Jordan), the Cooperative Monitoring Center,(Jordan) the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (Shufat-East Jerusalem, PNA, via Israel), the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), and the Ahali-Center for Community Development, Israel. During this reporting period, a Middle East Regional Irrigation Management Information Systems (IMIS) workshop was held in Jordan in November 2010, with twenty two participants representing all of the partner countries, to present and evaluate the results from each country, strengthen cooperation, offer recommendations to boost the project for the next three years, conduct a site visit of the weighing lysimeter in Deir-Alla Regional station, and visit farms in the Jordan Valley. The benefit of the weather station network was discussed in light of several concerns. First, the reliability and availability of data through the project web site (http://www.merimis.org), and the data integration with the IMIS network in Jordan is incomplete. There have been long-term issues with the timeliness of weather station repair, maintenance and instrument calibration, and checking calibration. A lack of spare parts and financial support for the personnel needs was cited. Thus, the network is playing an essential role in the project. There is a certain degree of unrealistic expectation with regards to the immediate utility of the weather station network for on-farm irrigation scheduling. The means to communicate irrigation scheduling information and advice to farmers is still under discussion; it is apparent that different approaches will be required for the different size farms (large commercial-scale versus small part-time) and types (open field, plastic houses, level of training). The existence or lack of farmer/irrigation associations is a key factor in the success and method of information dissemination. Reports for the individual projects can be found under accession numbers: 409263 (Arab Agronomists Association), 415243 (El Hawakeer-Assc Comm Ag Env Dev); 414887 (NCARE-Jordan); 414885 (Agricultural Development Association � PARC)
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
|
Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To develop and improve water management models and irrigation scheduling practices at both the field and watershed scale in the United States and the Middle East. Approach (from AD-416) In conjunction with the Department of State, conduct necessary theoretical and applied research, and build capacity through necessary education and training; thereby, establishing the technological and human infrastructure required to achieve long-term change in water conservation in the Middle East. Formal collaborative agreements (SCAs) will be established with regional partners that include the National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (Jordan), the Cooperative Monitoring Center,(Jordan) the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (Shufat-East Jerusalem, PNA, via Israel), the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), and the Ahali-Center for Community Development, Israel. Work is conducted in partnership between ARS, the Arab Agronomist Association (AAA), West Bank, the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) �Volcani Center, and Jordan�s Ministry of Agriculture. Technical direction is provided by Dr. James Ayars, ARS Water Management Research Laboratory, Parlier, CA, and Dr. Steven Evett, ARS Soil and Water Management Research Unit, Bushland, TX. The Middle Eastern co-operators work to establish the technological and human infrastructure required to achieve long-term sustained water conservation in the Middle East and the USA. The ADODR and cooperating scientists provided oversight by meeting with counterparts, visiting work sites in the region and via email and telephone discussions. A regional IMIS workshop was held in Nazareth, Israel on December 6, 2009, which coincided with the �International Symposium on Olive Irrigation and Oil Quality� which took place December 7-19, 2009, in Nazareth, Israel. Twenty-two project partners participated in the one-day workshop, many of whom presented progress made and challenges encountered during the past year. Participants held fruitful discussions during the workshop which produced a draft action plan that graduates the project beyond 2010 and serves as the basis for submitting proposals for future funding. It was the consensus that significant strides had been made in establishing and sustaining a network of meteorological stations that can be used to improve water management in Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Israel in the areas dominated by smallholder farmers. Several publications and informational materials addressing crop water requirement and water use efficiency, and other useful information were disseminated to extension workers and farmers in the cooperating countries. These publications provided stakeholders with project findings and guidelines for efficient water use methodologies and technologies that farmers can apply. Meteorological data for Israel, Jordan and Palestine can be retrieved from the IMIS network website: www. merimis.org. The website is updated regularly and modified to reflect project progress. Reports for the individual projects can be found under accession numbers: 409263 (Arab Agronomists Association), 415243 (El Hawakeer-Assc Comm Ag Env Dev); 414887 (NCARE-Jordan); 414885 (Agricultural Development Association � PARC).
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
|
Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To develop and improve water management models and irrigation scheduling practices at both the field and watershed scale in the United States and the Middle East. Approach (from AD-416) In conjunction with the Department of State, conduct necessary theoretical and applied research, and build capacity through necessary education and training; thereby, establishing the technological and human infrastructure required to achieve long-term change in water conservation in the Middle East. Formal collaborative agreements (SCAs) will be established with regional partners that include the National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (Jordan), the Cooperative Monitoring Center,(Jordan) the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (Shufat-East Jerusalem, PNA, via Israel), the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), and the Ahali-Center for Community Development, Israel. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report serves to document activities conducted under a reimbursable agreement with the U.S. Department of State. Work is conducted in partnership between ARS, the Arab Agronomist Association (AAA), West Bank; the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) �The Volcani Center, the Ahali-Center for Community Development and Jordan�s Ministry of Agriculture. Under the direction of Dr. James Ayars, ARS Water Management Research Laboratory, Parlier, CA, and Dr. Steven Evett, ARS Soil and Water Management Research Unit, Bushland, TX, the Middle Eastern co-operators work to establish the technological and human infrastructure required to achieve long-term sustained water conservation in the Middle East and the U.S. The ADODR and cooperating scientists provided oversight by meeting with counterparts during travel in the region and via email and telephone discussions. Progress includes increased scientific cooperation amongst American, Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian scientists; establishing of an agricultural meteorological stations network connected to a network and an internet site; improved knowledge of crop water use for several crops in the region; and plans for future collaboration on the pressing water issues of the region. Actual metrological data for Israel, Jordan and Palestine can be retrieved from the IMIS website: www.merimis.org. The rainfall was moderate in Israel, Palestine and in certain parts of Jordan. The highest rain fall recorded in the area covered by the MERIMIS network from October 2008 to May 2009 was in Baqa Al-Gharbieh (central Israel) at 488.4 mm, and the lowest was in the Jordan Valley, Jordan at 76.7 mm. Current metrological data for Israel, Jordan and West Bank can be retrieved from the IMIS website. The website is consistently updated and modified to reflect project progress.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
|
Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To develop and improve water management models and irrigation scheduling practices at both the field and watershed scale in the United States and the Middle East. Approach (from AD-416) In conjunction with the Department of State, conduct necessary theoretical and applied research, and build capacity through necessary education and training; thereby, establishing the technological and human infrastructure required to achieve long-term change in water conservation in the Middle East. Formal collaborative agreements (SCAs) will be established with regional partners that include the National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (Jordan), the Cooperative Monitoring Center,(Jordan) the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (Shufat-East Jerusalem, PNA, via Israel), the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), and the Ahali-Center for Community Development, Israel. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report serves to document activities conducted under a reimbursable agreement with the U.S. Department of State. Work is conducted in partnership between ARS, the Arab Agronomist Association (AAA), West Bank, the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) �The Volcani Center, the Ahali-Center for Community Development, and Jordan�s Ministry of Agriculture. Under the direction of Dr. James Ayars of ARS Water Management Research Laboratory, Parlier, CA, and Dr. Steven Evett of ARS Soil and Water Management Research Unit, Bushland, TX, the Middle Eastern co-operators work to establish the technological and human infrastructure required to achieve long-term sustained water conservation in the Middle East and the U.S. An article was published in the September 2006 issue of ARS Magazine about the IMIS project scientists visiting the U.S. The article entitled �Probing Peppers� Water Needs: Middle East Meets American West.� The article highlighted the specifics of the research and the expected outcomes as well as the historical background of the U.S.-Middle East cooperation as it relates to the project. Progress includes increased scientific cooperation amongst American, Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian scientists, creation of an agricultural meteorological station network connected to an internet site, improved knowledge of crop water use for several crops in the region, and positive plans for future collaboration on the pressing water issues of the region. Actual metrological data for Israel, Jordan and Palestine can be retrieved from the IMIS website: www.merimis.org. The rainfall was fairly good in Israel, Palestine and in certain parts of Jordan. The highest rain fall recorded in the area covered by the MERIMIS network from October 2006 to May 2007 was in Baqa Al-Gharbieh (central Israel) at 536.6 mm, and the lowest was in Wadi-Arabah, Jordan at 23.0 mm. Current metrological data for Israel, Jordan, and West Bank can be retrieved from the IMIS website. The website is consistently updated and modified to reflect project progress. As part of the effort to enhance the technical capacity of the IMIS cooperating parties, Dr. Steven R. Evett traveled to Jordan at the invitation of the National Centre for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT) to deliver a five-day workshop on irrigation management and scientific writing at NCARTT Headquarters in Amman, Jordan. The 28 participants were from NCARTT, the Ministry of Agriculture, University of Jordan, and Jordan University of Science and Technology; from Israel (four); and from Palestine (five). The course was hosted by NCARTT and sponsored by the Middle Eastern Irrigation Management Information Systems project (www.merimis.org). After the course, Dr. Evett worked with Dr. Mohammed Jitan and Engineer Naem Mazahrih, both of NCARTT, on details and planning for the ongoing construction of a weighing lysimeter for crop water use measurements at the Dair Alla Research Station in the Jordan Valley.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
|
|