On-the-job training series in Jordan: Using WaPOR data for irrigation performance assessment
On 12 and 13 June 2024, FAO in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), conducted a on-the-job training session in Amman, Jordan. The session is part of the training series on the use of WaPOR data for irrigation performance assessment in the Northern Jordan Valley.
Ten technical staff from the Jordan Valley Authority, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the Ministry of Agriculture participated. In addition, three new technical staff from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, the Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) attended the training to discuss the possibility of using WaPOR data in their water-related projects.
The first part of the training provided an overview of the database, including WaPOR concept, WaPOR platform, and introduction to the irrigation performance assessment approach. The second part focused on calculating key irrigation performance indicators that will be used within the irrigation performance assessment tool such as the consumed fraction, equity, adequacy, and water deficit.
The participants did several hands-on exercises, which included WaPOR data download and processing, analyzing water consumption and rainfall across different years and multiple scales such as farm level, demand area, and scheme scale.
Additionally, the participants generated the irrigation performance indicators and discussed the use of these indicators in informing irrigation water management decisions in the context of Northern Jordan Valley.
During the training sessions, participants followed the online assignments and records tailored for Jordan to encourage independent use of these resources for further practice.
At the end participants were requested to do home-assignments that will lead to certification in irrigation performance assessment, issued by IWMI, FAO and the IHE-Delft Institute for Water Education.