Well No. 15-18/020 in Jbarah village targeted within the project Improving Access to Irrigation Water in the Seam Zone of Hableh, Qalqiliya and Jbarah project, which aims to prevent erosion of farmer’s livelihood in the Seam Zone and reduce the risk of their displacement through increasing their access to water resources. The project implemented by Swedish Cooperation Center (we effect) in partner with Economic & Social Development Centre of Palestine (ESDC)

 

The Farmer Amer Khalid Hassan Hammed Said explain about Ijbara well and the land cultivation:

Before intervention, the well rely on diesel motors for pumping the water, well was suffering from various technical problems, have Poor design of the pumps, old equipment that technically expired many years ago, 60CM/h pumping capacity,  this causes, low efficiency of the wells “i.e. more operating costs and less supplied water” costing 2.5NIS/CM,  that forced the farmers to abandon their land as they can’t afford the high cost of the supplied water, this highly affected the farmers mainly those who are totally dependent on agricultural activities to earn their living. The total cultivated lands have been seriously affected and reduced and consequently the number of farmers has been reduced.

 

After intervention, the well rely on electrical system for pumping the water, new efficiency design of the pumps, new equipment installation, increase in application of good practices of well management, this causes, high efficiency of the well “i.e. less operating costs and more (double quantity, 110CM/h at 10 bar, 160CM/h at 0bar) supplied water” that Strengthened confidence of farm to its dependence on agriculture a source of livelihood, farming activities more sustainable, decrease in costs of irrigation,(1NIS/CM) thus, enhance attention farmers to re cultivated their land as a business, where he was planting the ground just a duty or habit in past , cultivation of new land, presence of new farmers to cultivate new land, increase  the farmers mainly those who are totally dependent on agricultural activities to earn their living, The total cultivated lands have been positively affected and increased to more than 150 dunoms and consequently the number of farmers has been increased to more than 10, these numbers are increasing. These changes are evident, owners the well and farmers expressed this, Mr. Amer Khalid Hassan Hammed rented a new 20 dunoms and planted it, this new cultivated land supported extended family include 26 members 12 males, 6 of them under 18, and 18 female a 9 of them under 18. Mr. Amer also said, we now feel more comfortable than before, feel for our ability to continue, irrigation water is now available in sufficient quantities and lower prices , Previously when we were irrigating we only could operate 300 sprinklers , but now we can operate 800 sprinklers at once, 1NIS/CM. we’ve planted this land newly and are looking for other land to cultivate, certainly will improve the level of our income for two reasons cultivation of new land, and the product is better quality and quantities more thus will improve the level our living, we thank those in charge of implementing the project  WeEffect, UNDP, and ESDC.

                                                    Picture of working on land reclamation on well

 

                                                    A picture of the land that had been newly planting