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Water scarcity in the Jordan Valley; Impacts on Agriculture and Rural livelihoods : Threaths and opportunities to local sustainable agriculture; the case of al-Auja, Jordan River Valley

Palestine has during the last two decades suffered from increasing water scarcity. This is particularlyvisible in the agricultural sector and in farming communities. These are heavily dependent on water as primaryirrigation source. Lack of water and investments has resulted in the destruction of the agricultural sector inPalestine. This thesis is focused as a case study in al-Auja, Jordan Valley that was once well-known for itsagricultural productivity and abundance of water resources. The aim of the thesis is to assess the socioeconomicand environmental impact of the water scarcity in Auja’s agriculture and livelihoods. The methods used arequalitative and the data was collected through field work in Auja in March – April, 2013. Results of the studyindicate that agricultural sector in Auja weakened due to lack of investments and technological innovation in achanging climate. The weakened agricultural sector was subjected to various shocks and stresses from late1980’s that ultimately led to an agricultural collapse, in 2003/4. Mass unemployment and food insecurityaffected the social sector; poorer nutritional intake, decreased school enrollment and the family composition.With little water, the environment changed from semi-arid to arid which eradicated various plant species andanimal habitat. Final results of the study indicate that the situation has gradually improved during the recentyears, much due to new investments in the area and higher education amongst Auja’s youth.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-208205
Date January 2013
CreatorsDobricic, Kristina
PublisherUppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper
Source SetsDiVA Archive at Upsalla University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeStudent thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text
Formatapplication/pdf
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
RelationExamensarbete vid Institutionen för geovetenskaper, 1650-6553 ; 160

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