Water and Livelihoods Initiative (WLI)

Annual Report, Oct. 1 2014 – Sept. 30, 2015

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Acronyms AREA Agricultural Research and Extension Authority ARC Agricultural Research Center ARIJ Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem AUB American University of Beirut, Lebanon AUC American University in Cairo CA Conservation Agriculture CBA Cost Benefit Analysis CBO Community Based Organization CC Climate Change DEM Digital Elevation Model ECiw Electrical Conductivity of irrigation water GCC Global Climate Change GCSAR General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research GEF-UNDP Global Environment Facility- United Nations Development Program GIS Geographic Information System HU Hebron University ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development INAT National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia INRAT National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia IRA Institute of Arid Regions-Medenine IPM Integrated Pest Management IT Information Technology IWMI International Water Management Institute JU Jordan University K Potassium LARI Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute LRC Land Research Center MEPI Middle East Partnership Initiative MENA Middle East and North Africa MC Mercy Corps N Nitrogen NARC National Agricultural Research Center NARS National Agricultural Research Systems NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NCARE National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension NGO Non-Governmental Organization NWRA National Water Resource Authority NWRC National Water Resource Center OAR Office of Agricultural Research – Iraq P Phosphorus RS Remote Sensing RFP Request for Proposal SEPRP Social, Economic and Policy Research Program SLA Sustainable Livelihoods Approach SWAT Soil and Water Assessment Tool UJ University of Jordan USAID United States Agency for International Development

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USDA-ARS United States Department for Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services WAS Water Accounting System WEAP Water Evaluation and Planning WHT Water Harvesting Techniques WLI Water and Livelihoods Initiative WUA Water User Association WUE Water Use Efficiency

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Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 6

I. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 8

II. Regional Activities ............................................................................................................................... 9

III. Egypt ............................................................................................................................................. 13

IV. Iraq ................................................................................................................................................ 16

V. Jordan ............................................................................................................................................... 21

VI. Lebanon ........................................................................................................................................ 26

VII. Palestine ........................................................................................................................................ 28

VIII. Tunisia ........................................................................................................................................... 31

IX. Yemen ........................................................................................................................................... 33

IV. Resource Mobilization .................................................................................................................. 36

V. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 37

Appendix 1: Publications Completed and Under Development .................................................... XXXVIII

Appendix 2: WLI Benchmark Sites and Out-scaling areas ..................................................................... XL

Appendix 3: Simplified M&E Plan for Operational Use at Country Level, 2015 ................................. XLIII

Appendix 4: Report on Selected FTF Indicators ................................................................................. XLVI

Appendix 5: WLI Country Research Teams ...................................................................................... XLVIII

Appendix 6: Members of the WLI Steering Committee ......................................................................... LI

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Executive Summary The annual report offers a summary of activities that were conducted by the Water and Livelihoods Initiative (WLI) during the performance period of the US government’s 2015 fiscal year (October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015). The goal of the WLI is to improve the livelihoods of rural households and communities in areas where water scarcity, land degradation, water quality deterioration, food security, and health problems are prevalent in the eight participating countries, focusing initially on selected benchmark sites in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia and Yemen excluding Syria due to the current political turmoil. The main objective is to develop and pilot test integrated water, land-use and livelihoods strategy in the benchmark sites for scaling out and up.

Research activities both at the basin and farm level were executed during the performance period in line with work plans approved for the year bringing over 2,200 hectares of land under improved technologies or management practices and included the training of over 550 stakeholders (18% women) in water saving activities for production agriculture. Basin level research carried out in the performance period included land and irrigation water management in Iraq; watershed modeling, monitoring and management as well as maintaining check dams and demonstration sites for implementing water harvesting techniques, and disseminate findings focusing on marab productivity in Jordan; watershed management and modeling in Lebanon; adaptation tools and practices in response to climate change and application of water harvesting (out scaling and up-scaling) in Palestine; and assessing future scenarios for Global Climate Change (GCC) and impacts on water resources, agriculture, and livelihoods through a series of activities in Tunisia.

At the farm level, research at the benchmark sites focused on improving water productivity and soil management by pilot testing various water and land management strategies. Major research activities undertaken by participating countries included:

• planting and breeding of indeterminate growth cucumber varieties on single rows in

greenhouses;

• application of K fertilizer to increase the resistance of potato to saline water irrigation and

to enhance yield;

• assessing the impact of compost fertilizer in mitigating the effect of brackish waters on

potato yield; assessing the impact of Cultar hormone on increasing resistance of cucumber

to drought and brackish water; and the resistance of pepper to brackish water by applying

K fertilizer at open field;

• evaluating new drought tolerant plants (Atriplex, salsola, alley cropping) and introducing

new forage plants;

• drought mitigation through monitoring beneficial range vegetation indices;

• production and evaluation of caper plants in arid zone; integrated pest management of

main crops;

• intensive cultivation of early, late and industrial apricot varieties;

• collection of native rangeland seeds;

• introduction of Conservation Agriculture;

• fertigation of papaya; and

• dissemination of cletoria and lipid; and supplemental irrigation of spate irrigated sesame 6

Socio-Economic investigation focused on conducting farmers’ willingness to adopt WLI technologies survey to improve dissemination strategies and approaches to promote adoption of proven water and land management technologies. Field days and training sessions were also conducted for farmers in Jordan and Iraq, a practical training for university students in Palestine; and field days in Jordan and Tunisia. The Tunisia WLI program facilitated Post-Doc opportunities for researchers from INAT and IRA to work with partnering institutions such as the United States Department of Agriculture’s –Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS).

Challenges encountered during the performance period mainly relate to security concerns in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen that prevented researchers from conducting field visits as often as they would have liked. These security challenges have restricted access to WLI benchmark sites and also restricted travel for partners from these countries to participate in trainings. Other challenges are in the extremely competitive fundraising environment and the attrition of ICARDA staff working on WLI projects.

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I. Introduction

The report presents a summary of achievements of the WLI team during 2015 (Oct 2014 – September 2015). The goal of the WLI is to improve the livelihoods of rural households and communities in areas where water scarcity, land degradation, water quality deterioration, food insecurity and health problems are prevalent in the eight participating countries, focusing initially on selected benchmark sites in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria and Yemen (figure 1). The main objective is to develop and pilot test integrated water, land-use and livelihoods strategies in selected benchmark sites for scaling out and scaling up.

The WLI is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and managed by ICARDA. Research activities at the respective benchmark sites are led by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Services (NARES). Other partners include a consortium of US universities including Texas A&M (TAMU), University of California – Davis (UC Davis), University of Florida (UF), and Colorado State University (CSU); and the United States Department of Agriculture –Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS) and Forest Service (FS).

The WLI organized its 7th Annual Regional Coordination Meeting in Nov 11-13 which served as an excellent platform for WLI partners to report on progress made towards achieving goals to improve rural economic development in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. The meeting was part of the collaborative efforts towards developing technology packages for irrigated, rangeland and rainfed agro-ecosystems in the Middle East and North Africa regions that address increasing water scarcity. U.S. Ambassador Lewis Lucke (retired) and over 60 representatives from partnering NARES; USAID; national, regional and U.S. universities; USDA-ARS; and ICARDA attended the meeting.

Figure 1: WLI benchmark sites in seven partnering countries

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II. Regional Activities

This section is to outline specific capacity building activities that WLI partners have conducted in 2015. There were 28 activities carried out by the WLI focusing on biophysical and socio-economic advancement of WLI goals. These activities directly benefited over 550 participants with about 30% being female. The activities can be delineated into three general categories:

1) National level trainings and workshops 2) Local trainings and stakeholder meetings/field trainings, and 3) Regional trainings.

Table 1: National level trainings targeting NARS partners and farming communities

Country Training Title Participants

Egypt Management of salt affected and new lands 30

Egypt On farm water management for sustainable agricultural water use

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Iraq Mitigation the effects of brackish water on growth and yield of vegetables 21

Iraq Use of subsurface drip irrigation method to grow vegetables, and mitigating the effect of brackish water on growth and yield of vegetables

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Iraq Subsurface drip irrigation to grow vegetables under protected agriculture 14

Iraq Subsurface drip irrigation to grow vegetables under protected and outdoor agriculture

18 Female only

Iraq Subsurface drip irrigation method to grow vegetables, and procedure to increase the resistance of vegetables to irrigated by brackish water

7 Teenagers

Iraq Increase the resistance of potato to irrigated by saline water by apply K fertilizer

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Iraq Soil and water management, and use of sub-surface drip irrigation to grow vegetables

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Iraq Water squandering 29

Jordan Five separate socio-economic trainings on assessing the impact of water harvesting techniques

20 Female

Lebanon Mushroom Cultivation 30

Lebanon Conservation Agriculture methods and implementation 40

Lebanon PC Use and software applications 16 Female

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Palestine Expo for Women’s organization and business linkages to Chamber of Commerce – Tubas

60- 30 Female

Palestine Expo for Women’s organization and business linkages to Chamber of Commerce – Hebron- Halhol woman association

50- 20 Female

Palestine Non-conventional cheese making and food hygiene 15 Female

Palestine Promoting food hygiene in the society and at homes 50- 25 Female

Palestine Management of women association-Nasrah 15 Female

Palestine Nassarah Woman Association Exchange Visit to Yabad Association 7 Female

Palestine Water harvesting at Tubas- Agronomy students 8

Tunisia Water Resources and Livelihoods in the Dry Areas: Considering Climate Uncertainty- Stakeholder Meeting

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Tunisia Six-month post-doc: Irrigation management and crop water modelling at the ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory

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Tunisia Six-month post-doc: Calibrating crop modeling systems under different irrigation methods at the ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory

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Regional Training on achieving success with technical scientific writing, Amman, Jordan

15- 4 Female

Regional Regional Methodological Workshop on Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Farmers’, Researchers’, and Extension Agents’ Role in Adoption of WLI Technologies

14- 7 Female

Regional Training on salinity management- Partnership with JICA 12

Regional Institutional Innovation and Change for Water Conservation in Arid and Semi-Arid Agricultural Systems-Ph.D. Candidate

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2014 Thematic Groups Combined Efforts

In 2014 the WLI regional implementation included three thematic groups: modeling, socio-economics and economics of natural resources management groups, which focused on the science of scaling. This specifically focused on collecting data that could be extrapolated to understand how and where to invest development efforts in the region.

In 2015, the economics of natural resource management and socio-economics thematic groups combined efforts to further develop an understanding of how stakeholders can utilize water saving technologies. The WLI has 30 technologies or innovation packages that have been field tested by partners using participatory research approaches. These technologies reduce water consumption and increased yields.

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However adoption by communities and farmers remains low. In 2015 the WLI focused its Socio-economic efforts on a regional project to understand farmers’ “willingness to adopt” shelf ready technologies.

There were six WLI countries involved in the study; Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Tunisia, and they used a standardized survey to interview over 300 farmers, 34 researchers, and 17 extension agents. Each partner country picked a single technology that they would focus their respective research on.

Table 2: Technologies chosen by NARS partners for analyzing the willingness for community adoption

Countries Technologies

Egypt Raised bed

Iraq Sub-surface irrigation

Jordan Marrab

Lebanon Conservation Agriculture

Palestine Silage production

Tunisia Deficit irrigation for citrus production

With these standardized data across the region the team was able to understand several of the weaknesses of efforts in promoting adoption of water saving agricultural technologies. In addition the team was able to use a qualitative framework software “Adopt” to estimate the peak adoption rates of a specific technology and how long it would take to get to peak adoptions. The model’s good understanding and estimation of how many people will adopt the technology offers valuable information that can assist donors in making investment decisions.

This regional work will continue into 2016 with the goal of publishing results of the study.

WLI 7th Annual Regional Coordination Meeting, Nov 3-4, 2015, Amman NOTE: This meeting was hosted under the performance period for 2016 and will be reported in the subsequent annual report.

This was the annual opportunity for all of our WLI National teams to come together with technical advisors from WLI partners at USDA, Colorado State University, University of California-Davis, University of Florida and the US Embassy to hone their research for development implementations. This meeting featured full progress reviews from the 2015 implementation of the WLI at national levels, a final report of the “Willingness to Adopt” study conducted from the regional Socio-Economic thematic group work. In addition the Coordination Meeting featured presentations from our regional NGO and University partners as well as American technical advisors. This annual event serves as a platform for adjusting past work and planning for the next years’ activities.

Student Exchange Program Greg Sixt, a Ph.D. candidate from Tufts University, Agriculture, Food and Environment Program, in the USA spent two months in Amman and Palestine developing his dissertation proposal and focusing on policy challenges for adopting WLI technologies. The title of his research is Institutional Innovation and

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Change for Water Conservation in Arid and Semi-Arid Agricultural Systems. Greg spent his time interviewing officials involved with policy making to develop his dissertation proposal.

In addition to his own research Greg spent time in Palestine working on a proposal to the USAID Saving Water for Food (SWFF) program. He worked with WLI partners in Palestine to develop the proposal for Small-scale, Low-tech, Low Cost Hydroponic Animal Forage Production System in the Eastern Slope of the West Bank.

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III. Egypt

Overview Introduction

The Water and Livelihoods Initiative examines land and water management strategies in Egypt from a livelihoods perspective. The goal of WLI is to improve the livelihoods of rural households and

communities in areas where water scarcity, land degradation, water quality deterioration, food insecurity and health problems are prevalent, focusing initially on in-depth site-based investigations at selected benchmark sites located in old and new lands as well as salt-affected land. The activities of the WLI project continued during this period according to the work plan of the three components, which are bio-physical, socioeconomic, and capacity building. The activities have been summarized as follows:

Figure 2: WLI benchmark sites in Egypt

Bio-physical activity Activity 1: Soil degradation – Analysis of soil compaction and salinity build up

By the end of March 2015 (before the summer season), soil salinity and compaction measurements were completed in both New (El-Bustan) and salt-affected (South El- Houssainia) sites (Fig. 1). In addition, samples of irrigation water from irrigation canals were collected. Measurements will be undertaken in farmers’ fields who are participating in the socio-economic activity. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples will be collected to study soil salinity build-up and compaction as factors of land deterioration. Soil compaction will be assessed using the cone penetrometer, and water table depth and saturated hydraulic conductivity will be measured. Questionnaires regarding farmers’ practices will be developed from the data collected during the study. The effect of farmers practice on crop production and salinity build up will be assessed using the SALTMED model. Activity 2: Development and Evaluation of the Use of Brackish Groundwater in Integrated Aqua-Agriculture systems in New Land in Egypt

A Tilapia fish experiment was conducted and saline tolerant crops were cultivated last winter (2014/2015) on sandy soils at Wadi El-Natroun Experiment Station in the west Nile Delta of Egypt to represent the new land site and to investigate the potential of using brackish ground water for integrated food systems. Brackish water utilized for aquaculture production was reused for irrigation purposes while monitoring increased nutritive values from utilizing the same water. For this purpose, sugar

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beet and barley were cultivated as a saline crops due to their tolerant properties. The treatments were applied and all related data concerned with the consumptive use, crop water requirements, applied water, and plant performance were collected for analysis over the remainder of the year.

Activity 3: Management of Hybrid Irrigation Methods for Enhancing Crop Water Productivity in Old Land in Egypt

A field experiment was conducted in the winter 2014/2015 on clay soil at Zankalon Experiment Station in the east Nile Delta of Egypt to represent the old land site and to investigate the performance of the multi-outlet hybrid irrigation for irrigating compared with lined ditch irrigation system. Data was collected on consumptive use, crop water requirements, applied water, and plant performance and will be analysis in the remainder of 2015.

Socio-Economic Component The work done of the two socio-economic activities during the first half of 2015 are summarized as follows:

Activity1: Socio-Economic Impacts of Soil Degradation on Farmer’s Livelihood in both Salt Affected and New Lands.

The team has completed the following activities:

1- Preparing the questionnaire; 2- Pre-tested the questionaire; 3- Sample selection (100 farmers distributed as 50 farmers in each site); and 4- Analysis and interpretation of data (on-going).

Activity2: Socio-Economic Study on “Current Crop Rotations and its Impact on Soil Degradation and the Ways to Improve Crop Planning” utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques which are being compared to official historical data.

In this activity, the team is collecting historical official data sets from different resources and the literature review for the two sites.

Capacity building activity Activity 1: Identification of land performance, problems and management of salt affected and new lands

The first training course focused on integrated management of soils, water and the environment on salt-affected soils and was conducted at Port Said (Agricultural Services in East Delta for Young graduates Project) during the period from 22 - 26 March, 2015. Thirty participants, including young researchers, agricultural extension engineers, farmers (graduates) attended the course. Table 3. Course participants.

Trainees Number of Participants

Extension Agents (MALR) 8 Agricultural Administration Department in Port Said

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Agricultural inspection 4 Researchers 4 Farmers (graduates) 5 Agriculture Experiments Department in Port Said

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Total 30 14

Table 4. Course schedule and main topics. Date Lecturer Subject

Sunday 22/03/2015

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Opening and welcome statement Dr. Saber Mahmoud Different compost production systems

from agricultural wastes Dr. Ebtsam Morsy Detection methods for nematode infection

and root rot in the rhizosphere, manures and plant roots

Monday 23/03/2015

Dr. Mohamed Reda Modern techniques to improve the salt affected soils

Dr. Mona Kamal Introduction in the role of land drainage Dr. Mostafa Korany Drainage as a means to improve salt-

affected soils Tuesday 24/03/2015

Dr. Mohamed Afify Humic substance production from agricultural waste

Dr. Medhat Yamany Production of bacteria lyaccines and bio-fertilizers

Wednesday 25/03/2015

Dr. Abdel-Hady Mohamed Symptoms of plant nutrient deficiency Dr. Mahmoud El-Kholy Methods of fertilizer application in salt

affected soils Thursday 26/03/2015

Dr. Abdalla Mohanedin Open discussion and evaluation Dr. Khaled Abdel-Latif

Activity 2: On farm water management for sustainable agricultural water use The training course was held from March 22-26, 2015 and focused on, “On-farm water management for sustainable agricultural water use” at WMRI in El-Kanater, Egypt. The topics and the instructors are presented in Table 4. Fourteen junior agricultural and civil engineers attended the training course.

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IV. Iraq Overview Abu- Ghraib, located 20 km west of Baghdad, represents one of WLI’s irrigated benchmark sites where the Iraqi team is implementing its activities. The site, receives 90% of its irrigation water from the Euphrates River and 10% from the Tigris River, grows a variety of crops and vegetables that include wheat, barley, corn, cucumber, eggplant, squash, pepper, Oora, tomato, potato and clover (alfalfa, berseem). Low water productivity, traditional irrigation methods, declining water quality and water shortages constitute the major obstacles to generating increased revenues for rural communities at Abu-Ghraib benchmark.

Due to the military conflict in Anbar province, the canal that supplies irrigation water to Abu Ghraib project, has been damaged causing an interruption of fresh water supply. The WLI team in Iraq, consequently, decided to adopt two scenarios when addressing 2015-work plan. The first one deals with drought as a common phenomenon in Abu-Ghraib project, while the second scenario deals with brackish water (well water) used as irrigation water when fresh canal water is not available. Unfortunately violence has continued and farmers in/near the WLI focus area have been cut off from fresh water from the canal and are now depending on brackish well water. For this reason the WLI team in Iraq has been focusing on crop production using marginal water sources to offer guidance and training to local farmers.

1. Integrated water and land-use strategies Community Basin scale strategies

Activity 1: Prediction of land and irrigation water management in benchmark site at Abu Ghraib by using the AquaCrop model

During the performance period the WLI team developed new water and land management strategies for Abu-Ghraib Project by using the AquaCrop program where members of Bio-physical team were trained on the use of the model in Egypt by August, 2014. The team collected needed data for running the model that included climate elements (temperature, rainfall for year of 2014), sowing date, harvesting date, irrigation water quantity applied by farmers, irrigation water salinity, water productivity, kc for each stage of plant growth, dominant soil types including their physical and chemical characteristics, for selected crops (wheat, barley, potato and alfalfa) as a first stage in priming the model. On entering these data into data base of the model, the team discovered that the program did not provide simulation outputs as it required metrological data for the previous five-years as a minimum data set. The team has worked hard to collect the required addition data and is now in the final stages of data entry into the AquaCrop model. The team expects to finish this process by the end April, 2016.

On-farm improvements Activity 2: Planting and breeding of indeterminate growth of cucumber plants on single rows in greenhouses The study focused on improving water productivity and reducing the input cost of growing cucumbers under protected agriculture. The research involved planting and breeding of indeterminate varieties of cucumber plants on single line or row instead of two lines or rows as in the case with traditional methods of

Figure 2: View of greenhouse in the stage of cutting the main branch of cucumber plant at 17/3/2015.

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planting. The methodology included cutting the main branch of cucumber plants by a distance of 30-50 cm from soil surface and leaving the best of 2-3 secondary branches. Seedlings were transferred to the soil bed in the greenhouse on 15 Jan, 2015 within a farmers’ fields in Hactria and Share districts in Abu Ghraib after the greenhouse was divided into two equal parts, the first was set aside for the establishment of a single row of subsurface drip irrigation pipe into seven furrows. While five furrows with 10 row pipe lines were established in the second half of the greenhouse, which represented the traditional method of production (Figures 2 and 3). The plants irrigated by fresh water, which transfer by tank (fresh water not available as mentioned before) in equal volume and fertilizers were applied in equal rate to each part. Harvesting has started and the team continues to monitor the experiment in order to determine the yield daily.

Figure 3: Number of branches on one plant after cutting main branch in a greenhouse in Abu-Ghraib benchmark site that focused on indeterminate cucumber production systems on 28/3/2015. Activity 3: Application of K fertilizer to increase the resistance of potato to saline water irrigation and to enhance yield

The objective of this study is to determine the impact of K fertilizer levels application in mitigating the effect of irrigation by brackish water on potatoes at Abu-Ghraib Project. Land preparation and subsurface drip irrigation pipes were installed and potato seeds were sown without irrigation until 15 Jan, 2015 to avoid frost that is common in that area (Figure 4).

The treatments were irrigated by using brackish waters with ECiw around 2.2 dS/m. Three level of K fertilizer were applied at a rate of 0 (K0), 400 and 600 kg/ha of K2SO4 (K 42%), and urea (46% N) at a rate of 400 kg/ ha over four application dates according to physiological growth of potato plants with irrigation water (subsurface Drip Irrigation). Results of the experiment indicated increases in water productivity and yield. The highest water productivity was obtained with application of 600 kg ( k2SO4)/h (K2) as compared to applications under K1 (400 kg of k2SO4 per ha). 47 and 58% increases in potato yield were also recorded with K1 and K2 applications as compared with the control.

Activity 4: Impact of compost fertilizer in mitigating the effect of brackish waters on potato yield

Figure 4: Application trial of different levels of K fertilizer to increase the resistance of potato to saline irrigation water.

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The aim of this study is to determine the impact of compost fertilizer application on mitigating the effect of brackish water on potato yield at Abu-Ghraib project. The research team conducted a field trial in Abu-Ghraib on potato with application of three levels of compost fertilizer with rate of 0, 5 and 10 t/ha. Potato seeds were sown on 15 Jan, 2015. The treatments were irrigated using brackish waters with ECiw around 2.2 dS/m with different irrigation volume (350, 450 and 550mm). K fertilizer was applied by irrigation system (subsurface Drip Irrigation) at a rate of 100 kg/ha of K2SO4 (k 42%), and 320 kg/ha of urea (46% N) over four application stages depending upon the physiological growth of potato plants during season. Results indicated significant differences between irrigation volumes and compost fertilizer levels applied. The highest yield of 59 t/ha was obtained with the application of 10t/ha of compost fertilizer as compared with the control which generated 49t/ha. The best yield obtained from the interaction experiment which aimed to identify the best combinations of compost and irrigation with brackish was 62t/ha. This was achieved with the application of 10t of compost/ha and irrigation with 3500m3/ha of brackish water. The lowest yield was obtained with no application of compost but irrigation levels of 3500m3/ha. Activity 5: Increase the resistance of pepper to brackish water by applying K fertilizer in a field based production systems at the Abu-Ghraib benchmark site

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of different levels of K fertilizer applied to increase the resistance of pepper to irrigation by brackish waters in Abu-Ghraib benchmark site. Three levels of K fertilizer was apply at rates of 0, 320 and 480 kg/ha of K2SO4 (K 42%), and urea (46% N) with rate of 400 kg/ ha applied as nine split applications dependent upon the physiological growth of pepper plants by fertigation methods ( subsurface drip irrigation). The treatments were irrigated with brackish waters with ECiw around 2.2 dS/m. Total volume of water applied was 650 mm for whole season. Seedlings were transplanted in on 15 March, 2015 in farmers’ fields in Hactria and Share districts in Abu Ghraib benchmark site and the last harvest was completed on Oct 30, 2015. The first application of N fertilizers was applied on March 31, 2015 (Figure 5). Results of the experiments demonstrated significant increases in yield with the highest increase (24%) recorded with application of 420 kg k2SO4/h. Similarly the highest level of water productivity for pepper was obtained with the application of 4810 kg ( k2SO4)/h.

Figures 5 a and b: Experiment on resistance of pepper to irrigate by brackish water by k-fertilizer application at Abu-Ghraib benchmark site.

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Activity 6: Impact of Cultar (Cytokine) hormone in increasing resistance of cucumber to drought and brackish water in farmer fields in Abu-Ghraib benchmark site

The objective of this study is to determine improvements in water productivity and cucumber yield by using of Cytokine hormones as a foliar application with subsurface drip irrigation. Three level of Cytokine hormone were applied at a rate of 0, 100, 200 mg/l. The treatments were irrigated by well water with ECiw of 1.0 dS/m on the basis when depletion of applied water reached 30% 45% 60% of available water. N, P, and K fertilizers were added at a rate of 200, 40, 120 kg/ha respectively. Seedlings was transfer to the field on 15 March, 2015 in farmers’ field at Akarkouf districts in Abu Ghraib project. Results of the study indicated that application of cytokines hormons (200mg/l) and reduced application of irrigation water (150m3/ha) resulted in increased resistance of plants to drought conditions. Table 5: Effect of Cytokine hormone on cucumber yield ( t/ha) by increase resistance to drought in Abu-Ghraib project. Socio-Economic, Gender and Policy Research The Iraqi Socio –Economic team completed entry of all data collected from the form of “Questions for WLI Site Farmers and Researchers” which was prepared by socio-economic team in ICARDA for 70 farmers. These data were separated by those farmers who have adopted the technology provided by WLI and those who have not in Excel sheets, which were provided by ICARDA team and transferred to a SPSS database to be analysed on at a regional level. This study is part of the Willingness to Adopt WLI Technologies activity and improve dissemination strategies and approaches to promote adoption of proven water and land management technologies. Sub-surface drip irrigation was selected by the Iraqi team for this study. Preliminary results of the binary regression model identified several determinants of adoption including – farmers’ level of education, farm size, farmers’ experience, and alternative sources of income. The study also revealed that increased affordability, triability, and observability of the technology could promote large-scale adoption of the technology.

The Iraq team also participated in the “Methodology for Data Analysis Workshop” which was held during May 6-7, 2015 in Amman.

Irrigation volume

(m3/ha)

Cytokines concentration applied

(mg/l)

Mean

Control (F0)

100 (F1)

200 (F2)

600 ( Q1) 6300 8583 9128 8004

300 ( Q2) 5899 8413 6979 7097

150 (Q3) 5861 9264 9464 8196

LSD 0.05 Interaction = 2813 LSD 0.05 = 1624 Irrigation volume

Mean 6020 8753 8524

LSD 0.05 Cytokines

concentration applied

1624

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2. Enhancing knowledge, skills and qualifications of key stakeholders in the benchmark sites

Twenty one farmers participated in a training course held at farmers’ fields in Hactria and Share districts in Abu Ghraib benchmark site on 2/2/2015 for the use of subsurface drip irrigation method to grow vegetables. The title of this training was “Mitigating the effect of brackish water on growth and yield of vegetables”. The team of WLI provided trainees sufficient explanations about how to establish subsurface drip irrigation systems and the benefits of this irrigation system in reducing the amount of irrigation water applied (Figure 6).

Figure 6: Training Course on using of sub-surface drip irrigation to grow vegetables and mitigation the effect of brackish water on growth and yield of vegetables The bio-physical team conducted a training course for one day on 15/1/2015 for 14 farmers at Akarkouf districts in Abu Ghraib project (Figure 7) in the use of subsurface drip irrigation methods to grow vegetables, and mitigate the effect of brackish water on growth and yield of vegetables. The training course was implemented outside of the benchmark site, but in Abu-Ghraib as part of the strategy for out-scaling the technology.

Figure 7: Training course on using of sub-surface drip irrigation to grow vegetables and mitigation the effect of brackish water on growth and yield of vegetables for male.

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A field day demonstration on 31/1/2015was held at farmers’ fields in Hactria and Share districts at Abu Ghraib project for fourteen farmers. The field day focused on using sub-surface drip irrigation to grow vegetables under protected agriculture (Figure 8).

Figure 8: Field day demonstration on using of sub-surface drip irrigation to grow vegetables under protected agriculture for male.

WLI team successfully completed a field day on 25/1/2015 at Hactria and Share districts at Abu Ghraib project for ten female farmers on using sub-surface drip irrigation to grow vegetables under protected agriculture and outdoor agriculture and provided advice on how to deal with brackish water (Figures 9).

Figure 9: Field day demonstration on using of sub-surface drip irrigation to grow vegetable under protected agriculture and outdoor agriculture for female farmers.

V. Jordan Overview Located in Jordan’s transitional Badia, the Mhareb watershed represents one of WLI’s rangeland benchmark sites and covers a total of 60 km2. Partnering with the National Center for Agricultural

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Research and Extension (NCARE) as well as the University of Jordan (UJ), WLI-Jordan focuses on improving rural livelihoods by pilot testing and introducing proven water and land management strategies to ensure efficient use of scarce and fragile natural resources, while reversing or curtailing their continued degradation.

1. Integrated water and land-use strategies Community and Basin scale strategies Activity 1: Watershed modeling, monitoring and management The team continues to study the effect of selected water harvesting interventions on sediment quantity and quality, run-off, and crop productivity by reprogramming the ESCO machine and adding a rain gauge. Efforts to promote the out-scaling and dissemination of tested technologies in the Badia and similar regions is being underway through conducting a series of activities including; soil data collection, runoff and rainfall monitoring, and SWAT modeling. Activity 2: Maintenance of demonstration sites for implementing water harvesting techniques, and disseminate findings focusing on marab productivity

This activity aims at evaluating the water harvesting techniques and marab systems capability in increasing productivity. Several storms early in the season resulted in damage to Mhareb and Majdiyya sites. Repairs were made to the marabs, including maintaining WHT, replanting fodder shrubs, creating a new site to demonstrate multiple systems in one location and maintaining check dams. Three earth dams for water spreading inside a marab were built during the reporting period.

In the 2014/2015 season, all the structures were maintained with additional levelling of the land for better water distribution, and stone spillways were constructed to allow the excess runoff to enter well defined areas. The site was planted with vetch and barley. No data was collected because of shortage of soil moisture monitoring equipment. But nonetheless, additional volume of runoff was stored in the soil as evident in the significant improvements in barley growth in the flood plains of the marab. The site witnessed four runoff flow events until mid-February. The last earth bund faced some minor damage and was repaired manually. For the next season, soil profile water content at different depth intervals will be measured to evaluate increase in soil moisture and overall area coverage. This will be done using profile soil moisture monitoring equipment which will be made available through a collaborative project supported by the US Forestry Services. Location: Majdyya- Terraces 1 and 2 These terraces are still performing well and are planted with barley for this season. New Location (Majdyya) A new location with a total area of 50 hectares was selected and preparations were made for four new marabs. About 10 hectares of contour ridges were planted with atriplex. The site has around 5 hectares of existing contour ridges with atriplex that was implemented 4 years ago and required some replanting.

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Figure 10: New site for marabs The total area of the new four marabs is 3.5 hectares. All the work in these structures was undertaken in the 2014/2015 season and all marabs were planted with barley and vetch. Each of the marabs was provided with a stone-spillway to safely drain the extra water out of the marab. The new marabs are functioning and the planted crops are doing well (Figure 10). Activity 3: Maintaining check dams Due to lack of maintenance to the check dams structured during phase one of the Badia Benchmark project over the past few years, some damage occurred to seven structures out of the 33 check dams existing at the site. Some maintenance work was done during 2011/2012 season to these check dams, but still due to the frequent heavy storms and consequent runoff events that occurred in the last two seasons, some structures was damaged. This season, the plan was to perform maintenance work on those seven structures on the main valley bed that required maintenance (Figure 11).

Figure 11: Maintenance of check-dams These check dams were three stone check dams, two earth check dams with cement spillways and two earth check dams with gabion spillways. The stone check dams were repaired by completely reconstructing the damaged part in order to maintain the structural integrity of the checks. The first earth check dam suffered from erosion of the spillway which was reconstructed again with cement as before, while the second needed to be expanded from

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both sides. The gabion structures needed signficant maintenance as there was water piping below the gabion cages on the sides of the valley bed. These structures required an additional 10 cubic meters of gabions for the repair in addition to reconstruction of the old gabions. One stone wall was affected and will be repaired during this summer. Activity 4: Replanting two terraces in Majdiyya with Barley Two terraces in a new location in Majdiyya were built with contour ridges on about 10 hectares planted with atriplex. The total area of this new site is 50 hectares. The site has around 5 hectares of existing contour ridges with atriplex that was implemented 4 years ago and required some replanting. The total area of the new four marabs is 3.5 hectares. All the work in these structures was done in the 2014/2015 season and all marabs were planted with barley and vetch. Each of the marabs was provided with a stone-spillway to safely drain the extra water out of the marab.

On-farm improvements Activity 1: Evaluating new drought tolerant plants (Atriplex, salsola, alley cropping) and introducing new forage plants

The objective was to increase water availability for crop/ fodder production. The team evaluated new forage shrubs for drought tolerance using conservation agriculture. The trials included barley cropping for Muhareb site and Majdiyya site. While vetch and five types of barley (Mouta, Yarmook, Uthroh, Acsad and Baladi) were evaluated and 100 kg/ha of seeds were applied at Muhareb site, barley, vetch and mix cropping using traditional cropping and conservation cropping practice were used at Majdiyya site. Marabs, fodder shrub plantation (atriplex crop) and barley strips were the three main types of planting applied in this trial.

Activity 2: Drought mitigation through monitoring beneficial range vegetation indices This activity was conducted to evaluate the drought intensity, and evaluate impact of water harvesting intervention on productivity. Intervention areas and marab position were mapped, Normalized Deviation Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps of different seasons were mapped to compare vegetation growth, detailed classification was used in an attempt to clarify vegetation change, long term NDVI profile were extracted using the of MODIS values (2009-2014), NDVI profile of different land use (water harvesting compared with farmer or control areas) were plotted, correlation between different land use and rainfall were calculated and Landsat eight-image for April, 2014 were downloaded and NDVI calculated and classified. Results indicated an unrecognizable change in vegetation growth using the NDVI index, and difference in NDVI values between different land uses (water harvesting techniques) is not evident. These results could be attributed to both low image resolution plus the sparse vegetation in study areas. The use of other image source with higher resolution was recommended. As a follow up to the findings, discussions with ICARDA’s GU are underway to identify proper remote sensing products that meet certain temporal and special resolution requirements to investigate crop cover related to NDVI at different crop development stages comparing treated with non-treated areas.

2. Enhancing knowledge, skills and qualifications of key stakeholders in the benchmark sites

Activity 1: Assessing Researchers’ Perceptions and Farmers’ Willingness to Adopt WLI Technologies

This study aims at assessing farmers’ perceptions of, and exposure to, the water harvesting technology, assessing researchers’ perceptions of technology development and existing dissemination strategies (what is working, what is not, and why?), identifying potential challenges and opportunities for technology adoption by farmers and assessing existing extension systems (private and public); identify viable partners; and make recommendations for good practices that can accelerate adoption rates.

Farmer’s questionnaire have been collected from the project site, a total of 59 surveys had been collected, 25 farmers are adopters of water harvesting technologies and 34 farmers who have heard about water harvesting but did not apply it at their farms. The collected data has

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been cleaned and checked for unreliable information, the questionnaire was coded by SPSS program, and data was entered and ready to be analyzed. To serve the above purpose, data were collected from researchers and extension agents working with the WLI project, and is being analyzed.

Activity 2: Capacity building A member of the socio-economic team (Dr. Samia Akroush) participated in the Regional Training Workshop on Impact Pathway with indicators, water harvesting technology and adoption- the case of Jordan; where she was a trainer and a lecturer in the workshop that was held in Amman on the 13th of November.

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VI. Lebanon Overview The WLI benchmark site in Lebanon is located in the El Qaa village in the Northern Beka’a valley – source of the Orontes River (Figure 12) where agriculture is the main source of livelihoods. Major challenges in the sector relate to scarcity of water, access to affordable inputs, and access to sufficient markets. Partnering with the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) as well as the American University of Beirut (AUB), WLI-Lebanon focuses on improving rural livelihoods by introducing proven and

new water and land management strategies that increase water use efficiency, yield, and household income.

1. Integrated water and land-use strategies Community and Basin scale strategies Activity 1: Watershed management and modeling The Soil-Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model requires spatial and attribute information provided by the user to simulate watershed management. Following the steps required throughout the SWAT mode, the watershed was divided into sub-basins, using high resolution topographic contours. The sub-basins were automatically obtained by running SWAT model on the area’s Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The land area is divided into Hydrologic Response Units (HRU) which is based on unique slope ranges, landuse/landcover and soil types. The SWAT model will compute runoff and sedimentation for each HRU. Maps of landcover/landuse, soil types and slope ranges are under preparation. Weather data will be generated for all the watershed, using existing weather stations of the Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute. Once the land cover map is completed, groundtruthing for data accuracy will be conducted. Crops will also be studied for their agriculture calendar based on various investigation including farmers’ surveys. In addition, soil type maps which not only use existing spatial soil data but field studies will be developed to feed into the SWAT model. Data on slope gradients and ranges will be obtained directly from the DEM which considers the spatial detail of slope ranges which in turn depend on the level of contour/topographic lines existed. On-farm improvements Activity 1: Production and evaluation of Caper plants in arid zone Different cultural practices, including pruning, tillage and fertilization, were continued between early December 2014 and early February 2015 for the 44 varieties of capers that were cultivated in April 2014 in Kfardan site. Fertilization Two hundred grams of Nitrogen (N) and two hundred grams of phosphorus (P) were applied near the base of the plants in early January 2015 in order to promote shoot and root growth. This trial intended to investigate the effect of three irrigation regimes on growth and development of Capparis Spinosa L. plants, analyze the effect of complete drought on the caper production (quantity and quality), study the performance of a newly introduced cultivar

Figure 12: WLI’s El Qaa benchmark site in Lebanon

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of caper in the inlands of Lebanon and examine the caper plant production under local environmental conditions. Activity 2: On farm demonstration trial (wheat, barley and chickpea) Five durum wheat varieties, five barley varieties and five Ccickpea varieties are planted at Kfardan LARI Station on 31/12/2014 to evaluate yield and resistance to drought in Kfardan, a semi-arid climatic region. A field day was conducted with participating farmers from North Bekaa. Each farmer received a wheat booklet with all necessary information. Activity 3: Integrated Pest Management of main crops in Qaa region Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs are required in Qaa region to control and regulate the sanitary status of apricot trees. WLI team conducted several activities in collaboration with the Department of Plant Protection, Tal Amara during December including:

• A meeting with LARI Team to discuss the work plan to be implemented in Qaa region and prepare needed tools for laboratory analysis and field work.

• Evaluating the sanitary status of apricot trees in Qaa region. The study started by identifying the main graft transmissible diseases affecting apricot fruit.

• Samples from diseased plants showing symptoms of wilting, decline or others caused by fungi and bacteria were collected for laboratory analysis.

• Observations of other problems that affect apricot production in Qaa region caused by insects or by any traditional abiotic problems on apricot trees.

• Two visits by LARI group for Qaa region were undertaken to observe the area of apricot crop cultivation and put a work plan for activities starting next spring.

Activity 5: Intensive cultivation of early, late and industrial Apricot varieties in El Qaa region Different cultural practices, including pruning, pest management and fertilization, were continued between early December and early February for five selected apricot varieties planted late February 2013 in the north of Bekaa (El-Qaa).

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VII. Palestine Overview WLI benchmark sites in the West Bank are located in Tammun (Eastern slope) and Hebron (South Western of the Central highlands). The sites are predominantly characterized as rangelands with minimal rainfed agriculture. The project led by the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) also fosters good collaboration with the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ), Land Research Center (LRC), Hebron University (HU) and various Farmers’ Associations. In line with the national objectives of the country to ensure water availability, land fertility, and food security - the WLI team is engaged in pilot testing integrated water and land management strategies as means to improve rural livelihoods. During the first quarter, Palestinian WLI partners focused on out-scaling the achieved results obtained by previous years, specifically in improving water harvesting, adopting drought tolerant wheat variety and enhancing farmer’s skills to adopt these practices.

1. Integrated water and land-use strategies Community and Basin scale strategies Activity 1: Adaptation tools and practices in response to climate change The team planted drought-tolerant wheat mainly Cham 3 and Hetayh (more than 8 tons) and 2 tons of barley in both benchmark site and outside. Within this and through cooperation with LRC and Denmark projects, 50 hectares were planted at Thaheray with wheat in water catchment area. More than 92 beneficiaries benefited from this activity.

Activity 2: Application of water harvesting (out scaling and up-scaling) This year, the team tried a new practice by applying water harvesting techniques at a larger scale where three projects [Denmark project (LRC), Climate change, Adaptation for learning (ARIJ) and RAWASI (PARC and ICARDA)] started working in synergy. Three sites have been recommended by WLI consultant for water harvesting.

At Thaherya, about 67 hectares of rock terraces, check dams and contour lines were introduced to the watershed. Rock terraces were also built in nearby slopes to slow down water runoff and reduce soil erosion. Herders and nearby farmers have benefited

from water collected behind the check dams (Figure 13). More than 81m3 of water were collected and used by those farmers. Land was plowed according to contour line to maximize water use efficiency and reduce runoff. At Bzeek (outside benchmark site) and Atuf, water harvesting techniques (eye brow and rock traces) were applied on a total of 3.8 hectares of land and most of it was planted with olive, and a Roman well was constructed.

On-farm improvements Activity 1: Collection of native rangeland seeds Our team from LRC started the collection of seed of native plant species, while NARC team started collection from Northern Part- Atuf , Jenin, Nasaryah and other areas These seeds will be used next year to be sown in range land area Activity 2: Introduction of conservation Agriculture This activity, introduced for the first time, aims to conserve water, reduce water loss, and minimize costs. Approximately 5 hectares in Atuf, Tubas, Tyasser and Aqaba were planted with drought tolerant vetch and barley without plowing the land

Figure 13: herders and farmers utilizing check dams to water their herds at Thaheray site

Figure 15: Planting seed with machine zero till in Atuf

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(Figure 15). Thirty five farmers were involved in these studies. Results will be collected on June-July where yield will be measured against input cost. Sample collection and evaluation of yield and biomass is underway in all pilot sites including Atuf, Tubas, Aqaba and Tyaseer.

2. Enhancing Knowledge, skills and qualifications for key stakeholders in the benchmark sites

Activity1: WLI 6th Annual Regional Meeting WLI team, representing four partners (three NGOs and one governmental institution) participated in the WLI 6th Annual Regional Coordination Meeting which was held in Amman on Nov 11-12, 2014. During the meeting, achievements and budget for the year 2014 and a work plan for the year 2015 were presented before the steering committee who approved the budget for 2015.

Activity 2: National Coordination Meeting The WLI national team held a coordination meeting in Hebron at LRC. Tasks for next year’s activities were distributed among all three participating national partners (ARIJ, LRC and NARC). Activity 3: Project Benchmarks Training for University Students Eight agronomists from Hebron University, Annajah University and Al Quds Open University received practical training on water harvesting, reading GIS maps and designing and building rock terraces at Tubas site (1 hectare).

3. Improved rural livelihoods through sustainable land and water management practices

Activity 1: Technology adoption and cost analysis Comprehensive survey was conducted to test level of farmers’ awareness and willingness to adopt silage technology. Out of 70 questionnaires collected, 35 farmers were aware of the technology. Data collected was analyzed and reported as part of the socio-economic thematic group.

Activity 2: Introducing WLI activities to local communities In December, a workshop was conducted for 30 participants to expose local communities and private sector to post harvest uses of introduced wheat varieties and to introduce farmers’ association and private sector to various WLI activities. A furtherr workshop was conducted in the month of April to expose woman associations and farmers to the benefits of utilizing improved varieties of seed and also for dairy processing. Male and female farmers from Hebron were also given the opportunity to see and learn from the success stories in the North. Participants visited the seed production unit where clean and verified seeds (wheat and barley) can be bought (Figure 16).

Figures 16 a and b: Field days to introduce community members to new varieties

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VIII. Tunisia

Overview The agricultural sector accounts for 83% of annual water consumption in Tunisia. According to a water availability estimation study conducted in 2012, water availability in Tunisia is estimated at 390 m3 per capita (FAO, 2014), which is a lot lower than the average per capita consumption level in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This is expected to decline further due to Climate Change (CC), unsustainable water management practices, and population growth.

WLI project in Tunisia works on three sites along a North-South water scarcity transect and aims to improve rural livelihoods through improved water management and agricultural production systems by pilot testing and out-scaling proven CC adaptation strategies and assessing the costs and benefits of improved interventions. The project’s objective is effectively aligned with national climate change adaptation strategies that, among other things, aim to improve water productivity and save water resources.

1. Integrated water and land use strategies

Basin scale strategies During the reporting period the team continued their efforts to assess future scenarios for Global Climate Change (GCC) and impacts on water resources, agriculture, and livelihoods through a series of activities, including:

(1) Identify available downscaled GCC model results applicable to the study areas and combined with available climatic datasets to explore other available models to assess their relevance to the study areas and their possibility of downloading,

(2) Develop scenarios for altered atmospheric carbon, temperature and rainfall patterns over a range of temporal cases,

(3) Model the production systems to identify effects of altered conditions and generate outputs to feed into an economic assessment. The identified models are being parameterized, and inputs are also being collected. Aquacrop is parameterized and validated for durum wheat and CropSyst for barley. For the latter case, results are currently under assessment in order to determine suitable strategies for barley crop under saline conditions. CROPWAT has been tested for Citrus in order to simulate the effect of deficit irrigation on the yield in terms of quantity and quality.

Research activities are also underway with regard to water management in rangeland and crop production systems. Important progress has been made in: (1) Integration of climate models and scenarios for effect on hydrology within the basin, and (2) field testing, model adaptation and monitoring effect on water availability and use.

The team has worked on quantification of benefits in terms of enhanced Benefit/Cost ratio through: (1) Characterization of livelihoods and household strategies for adaptation to climate change, (2) Economic assessment of Climate change effects on agro-ecosystems, (3) Cost-benefit analysis of adaptation measures for farmers. On-farm level strategies Field testing sites, both for the rainfed and irrigated agriculture, were identified and implemented by the three teams.

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Table 6: Technologies under pilot-testing in WLI sites

Sites

Technologies under pilot-testing

Northern Site Supplemental irrigation for wheat (Morneg and Zaghouan) and deficit irrigation for citrus (Nabeul).

Central Tunisia Five adaptation strategies are being tested: (i) Alley cropping (barley and cactus) and livestock, (ii) Cactus and livestock (iii) Barley under supplemental irrigation and livestock (iv) Olive trees and livestock (v) Olive trees, barley, and livestock (vi) Conservation agriculture

Southern Site (i) Irrigation mangement with saline water

(ii) Deficit irrigation (iii) Supplemental irrigation for drought control (iv) Water harvesting

The team is currently analyzing the data that have been collected from experiments on drip irrigation management with saline water for vegetable crop. Data has also been collected for the deficit irrigation of citrus and replicate experiment to test the application of sensor calibrated by the team in monitoring soil water content in citrus fields. Data on water use within two citrus growing areas in Cap Bon are collected from farmers’ associations. Analysis of the data is in progress to determine the actual water uptake by individual farmers for citrus irrigation. The team continued conducting trials on deficit irrigation of citrus and vegetable crops irrigated with saline water. The analysis of data collected from previous experiments is still in progress. Two papers were accepted for oral and poster presentations by scientific committee of international conference on ‘Integrated Land and Water Resources Management in the Dry Areas under Climate Change’ Djerba Island, Tunisia, May 11-14th, 2015.

• Nagaz et al. Response of vegetable crops to irrigation regimes with saline water in arid regions of Tunisia.

• Nagaz et al. Impact of deficit irrigation on yield and fruit quality in orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck, cv. Meski Maltaise) in Southern East Tunisia.

The team submitted revised paper by Nagaz et al. on “Potato response to different irrigation regimes using saline water” that has been accepted for publication in Irrigation and Drainage Journal (IRD) after minor revision.

In central Tunisian site at Sidi Bouzid, the team continued conducting trials which are:

i) Alley cropping under rainfed conditions (barley and cactus; barley and vetch) with cactus as alleys,

ii) Barley and durum wheat under supplemental irrigation and iii) iii) Barley and durum wheat under conservation agriculture based on direct

drilling. A Phd student from INAT (Mariem Barbouchi) is involved in the project and working on monitoring of water stress and supplemental irrigation scheduling cereals in semi-arid areas using polarimetric radar. In addition, an engineer student (Saoussen mahjoub) from INAT is involved in the project (project graduation) and works on the effect of supplemental irrigation on WUE and yields of barley and durum wheat. A paper on the effect of supplemental irrigation on WUE of barley and durum

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wheat prepared by Cheikh M’hamed, H., et al is competed and will be submitted on Journal of Agricultural Science.

2. Enhancing knowledge, skills and qualifications of key stakeholders in the benchmark sites

Ms. Fathia El Mokh (IRA Médenine) completed her 6 months postdoc placement at the end of November 2014 on ‘Irrigation management and crop water modelling’ at the Conservation and Production Research Laboratory (USDA-ARS, Bushland, Texas) with Dr. Paul D. Colaizzi.

Dr. Nabil Sghaier (INAT) completed a six-month post doc at the end of February 2015 at USDA-ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory (Beltsville, MD) with Dr. Martha Anderson to work on the ‘Performance evaluation of ALEXI Evapotranspiration model in Northern Tunisia’.

A project paper is ongoing entitled “Wheat yield correlations with remote sensing satellite derived indices over Northern Tunisia”. The study area covers Ariana, Beja, Ben Arous, Bizerte, Jendouba, Kef, Manouba, Nabeul, Siliana and Zaghouan governorates. The remote sensing indices used for the present work are: Evaporative Stress Index (ETa/ETo), LAI, Land Surface Temperature, Tropical Rainfall Mapping Mission (TRMM) precipitation product and Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS).

3. Improved rural livelihoods through sustainable land and water management practices

a. The team has conducted a survey in Zoghmar. The first part of the questionnaire focused on collecting data on costs and returns of different crops and livestock while the second part is used to assess effects of climate change on land use and approaches for adaptation. The survey permitted to determine farm incomes of different productions systems, compare incomes between the baseline production system (barley and livestock) and alternatives for adaptation. A cost-benefit analysis is undertaken to determine the profitability of different adaptation options through the calculation of different indicators such as the net present value, the benefit/cost ratio and the internal rate of return.

b. In Beni Khedache site, the SLA approach started in 2014 is under improvement in order to publish a scientific paper.

c. A scientific paper was submitted and accepted by the scientific committee of the ILDAC2015 conference “The International Conference on “Integrated land and water resources management in the dry areas under climate change” Djerba Island, Tunisia, May 11-14th, 2015 within the Theme 5: “Socio-economic aspects and integrated approaches: Integrated participatory approaches for sustainable development”.

d. The scientific paper titled “ Integrated impact assessment of livelihood and water management practices in Oum Zessar watershed, south east of Tunisia” by Sghaier Mongi, Abdeladhim Mohamed Arbi, Ouessar Mohamed, was selected to be presented as key note of the Session 5: Socio-economics.

e. Under the WLI socio-economic thematic group activity, the team working on citrus has conducted a survey on farmers’ willingness to adopt WLI technologies. A sample of seventy farmers was used in the study to cover the irrigation sectors of Beni khalled and Menzel Bouzelfa of the Nabeul Governorate.

IX. Yemen

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Overview Given the worsening water crisis in Yemen, it was necessary to search for solutions that aim to achieve sustainable management of renewable and available water resources to improve livelihoods. In Yemen, the Abyan Delta benchmark site offers an opportunity to engage with stakeholders for the formulation of a strategy to combat the policy, technical and livelihood concerns in a predominantly supplemental (spate) irrigated system. The main issues are groundwater depletion and over-extraction of water for cash cropping, inequitable water distribution of flood water and the technical constraints connected with the spate system itself such as the annual deterioration of irrigation infrastructure by flood waters and livelihood constraints which include a need for improved fodder resources and knowledge of improved land and water management, processing and marketing of livestock products, post-harvest production and a gender-sensitization of the work. This pilot strategy will then be available for scaling-up. Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA) representative by Elkod Agricultural Research Station and the National Water Resources Authority (NWRA)-Branch of Aden took over the implementation of the WLI project agenda over the past years, in coordination and cooperation with the Regional Office for International Centre of Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) - Dubai. To achieve the above objectives there has been ongoing WLI field activities since 2010, under biophysical and socio-economic studies which showed current situation in the Abyan Delta. During 2011, a database was initiated for water and land resources, which were used to prepare soil maps and land suitability map for irrigation in the Abyan Delta. In 2012 the team prepared land suitability maps for the main crops in the Abyan Delta, vegetation map, assessment of groundwater resources and launched on-farm activities related to water productivity in close collaboration with the farming community. During 2013 the team transferred buffel grass (lipid) and supplemental irrigation for spate irrigated sesame and assessed the effect of war against terrorism in Abyan Delta on the agricultural rural communities. A study on “Opportunities of Improvement and Activation of spate Irrigation system with participation of Water Users Associations in Delta Abyan” was also conducted in the same year. Other socio-economic studies conducted include: initial assessment of impact of water productivity on livelihoods, assessment of the role of associations in managing agro-ecosystems, and assessment of indigenous knowledge and social norms in management of agro-ecosystems.

1. Integrated water and land use strategies

On-farm level strategies Activity 1: Fertigation of papaya, dissemination of cletoria and lipid, supplemental irrigation of spate irrigated sesame

Four farms were selected to study the impact of supplemental irrigation on spate irrigated sesame yield. It was recorded that there was 103-120% increase in yield productivity when applying a single supplemental irrigation before flowering stage (Figure 17). The cost-benefit analysis of applying supplemental irrigation to spate irrigated sesame indicates that the gross margin ranged from 1596.8 to 2570.6 USD$/ha, while it was 586.7 to 1139.1 USD$/ha when supplemental irrigation was not applied (Figure 17). The benefit-cost Ratio was 3.74 to 5.06 % under supplemental irrigation and 2.42 to 3.76 % under farmer practices without applying supplemental irrigation. (Table 6). Soil samples were collected at harvest to calculate the actual evapotranspiration of sesame at the studied fields. A manuscript from this research study has been submitted to the American Journal of Experimental Agriculture entitled GIS-Based Assessment of Land Suitability for

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Industrial crops (cotton, sesame and groundnut) in the Abyan Delta, Yemen. The document is currently under peer review and should be published before the end of 2015.

Table 7: Increasing yield Under Supplemental Irrigation of Spate Irrigated Sesame

Farmer’s name Date of Harvest

Farmer Practices

Supplementary Irrigation

Increasing Yield, %

Rashad Fadhle A. 16/11 429.5 937.28 118.2 Nasr Zein Al-Shabhi 19/11 516 1137.28 120.4 Sheikh Nasr Alabsi 7/12 667.0 1377.6 106.5 NabeelTobeek 25/12 566.5 1240.0 118.9

Sesame field with supplementary irrigation Sesame field without supplemental irrigation

Figure 17: A comparison of spate irrigated sesame yield with (a) and without (b) supplemental irrigation

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IV. Resource Mobilization

In 2015 the WLI was operating on core funding from USAID’s Bureau of Food Security in Washington. The program’s budget for 2015 was $790,000 for regional activity and an additional $164,000 for Tunisia. Of this ICARDA management received a no-cost extension to obligate unused funds of $163,000 before September 30, 2015 from the regional WLI account due to late transfer of funds. The WLI Tunisia budget was completed.

ICARDA staff supported NARES partners in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen with $30,000 each in 2015 to implement activities approved in the previous steering committee. Tunisia has received a separate bilateral grant and NARES partners there directly received $80,000 in 2015. Syria continues as a WLI partner; however the WLI was not able to send any funding directly to partners there due to funding restrictions. In addition to funding that is transferred directly to NARES partners, the majority of additional financial resources are invested in building the technical capacity of in-country partners.

Fundraising remained a major effort of the regional WLI program in 2015. The Manager worked with partners across the regional program and within ICARDA to draft and submit nine proposals for consideration.

• USAID-Jordan (Water Conservation Activity)- RFA Canceled • AFSED- Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan (Improving water productivity and livelihoods in the

MENA Region) Award Pending • USDA-Forest Service-Jordan (Watershed Restoration in Badia Areas of Jordan) Awarded • UNDP-OFID-Palestine- (Household Waste Water Treatment) Awarded • NSF-PEER- Jordan (Quantifying Green Water from Rangeland Remediation Efforts) Rejected • Coca Cola Foundation- Jordan, Palestine, Iraq (Supporting Water Insecure Rural Communities

with Water Replenishment Techniques for Dryland Communities) Rejected • USAID-Palestine-(Saving Water for Food) Rejected • FABRI-Lebanon, Tunisia- (Community-based Interventions for Productive Use of Greywater for

Home Farming) Pending • USAID- MWSI- Palestine, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan (Options for Agricultural Adaptation to Climate

Change and Water Scarcity of Ecosystems and Livelihoods in the Middle East and North Africa) Pending

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V. Conclusion

Over the performance period of the project in 2015 the WLI met several output objectives contributing to the program goal of improving the livelihoods of rural households and communities, through the development and pilot testing of integrated water, land, and livelihood strategies on selected benchmark sites for scaling out. The WLI trained over 500 people including program partners in the NARES, students, CBO’s and farmers. In 2015 we achieved a substantial gain in manuscripts published or in in the publication process with 19 papers. In addition, we worked toward diversifying our donor base by drafting and submitting nine proposals. Major achievements came from regional strategies to understand sustainable scaling practices. Utilizing tools for decision making (modeling), understanding the economics of natural resources management, and exploring barriers to adoption using socio-economic survey methodologies has laid the ground work for future deployment of WLI technologies.

It was noticed and commented upon in the 6th Annual Planning Meeting in November that much of the strength of the WLI is due to the longevity. The WLI’s inception meeting was in 2008 and benchmark sites for most countries were developed with baseline data in 2010 and 2011. The WLI partners in eight countries have grown together to understand the benefits of the “benchmarking process” and the merits of developing technologies that are of International Public Goods.

In 2016, the WLI will continue the institutional and community capacity building efforts, but also increase the focus on scaling. This year the WLI will build upon the lessons learned from regional efforts understand barriers to adoption and design fundraising and deployment strategies taking barriers into account. WLI management will change hands in 2016 since Mr. Kristofer Dodge will be leaving ICARDA. Ms. Bezaiet Dessalegn will be the acting Project Manager until a permanent staff is recruited. The Steering Committee wished both the former and interim Manager’s luck in 2016 with this important transition.

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XXXVIII

Appendix 1: Publications Completed and Under Development 1. Muhaimeed, A., A. Al-Falahi, E. Al-Aini, E., A. Taha (2015) Developing Land Suitability maps for Some Crops in Abu-Ghraib Using Remote Sensing and GIS.

International Geoscience and Geomatics Conference. Istanbul. 2. Jabbar B., A.Alfalahi, E. Al-Ani, K. Saliem (2015) Integration of soil microbiological data with GIS maps and development of final land suitability maps.

Baghdad 3. Al-Mahasneh, L. (2014) Adapting SWAT Model to Assess the Impact of Water Harvesting Interventions on Runoff and Soil Erosion in an Arid

Environment; A Case from Jordan. Master’s Thesis, University of Jordan 4. Telleria, R., S. Akroush, Farmers’ Perceptions of Water Policies: A case study from the Jordanian Badia. Amman (In Preparation) 5. Nagaz, K. (2014) Potatoes response to irrigation regimes using saline water, Tunis. (Submitted) 6. El Mokh, F., AquaCrop simulations of full and deficit irrigation of corn in a semi-arid environment, Bushland (In Preparation) 7. Annabi, M., Estimating climate change, CO2 and technology development effects on wheat yield in Tunisia. Prosser (In Preparation) 8. Annabi, M. (2015) Estimating the effect of the future climate change on durum wheat productivity in northern Tunisia and the potential benefits of

conservation agricultural. Prosser, Agricultural System Journal. 9. Temani N., influence of climate on citrus production and quality in northern Tunisia. Tunis (In Preparation) 10. Sghaier, N., Future climate effects on wheat in northern Tunisia. Beltsville. (In Preparation) 11. M’hamed. (2015) Conservation agriculture as alternative to improve WUE of barley in semi-arid region of Tunisia. Tunis, 12. W. Ghazouani, F. Molle, A. Swelam, E. Rap, A. Abdo (2014) Understanding Farmers’ Adaptation to Water Scarcity: A Case Study from the Western Nile

Delta, Egypt, IWMI Research Report 160, Cairo. 13. Dodge, K., F. Ziadat. Catalyzing, Distilling and Disseminating Agro-Ecological Knowledge at the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in the Global Drylands.

Conference Paper: The Water-Food-Energy-Nexus in Drylands: bridging science and policy 12-13 June, 2014- Rabat, Morocco. 14. Ahmad S Muhaimeed; Ahamd A. Al-Falihi; Eimad Al-Aini and Auras M Taha. 2014. Developing Land Suitability maps for Some Crops in Abu-Ghraib Using

Remote Sensing and GIS. International Geoscience and Geomatics Conference .Istanbul/ Turkey on 27th – 30th of October 2014. 15. H.H. Hussien; Aoda M. I. and Ahmad.A. Alfalahi 2014.The impact of irrigation water salinity and deficit irrigation on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

Iraqi J. Agric. Res.Vol.19, No.3. (Special Issue), Dec, 2014. 16. A.S. Neama A.A. Al-Falahi and H.M. Hamoudi.2014. Response of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) to subsurface drip irrigation method in comparison

with surface drip and furrow irrigation methods under conventional agriculture. Iraqi J. Agric. Vol.19 No.3. (Special Issue), Dec, 2014. 17. I. J. Mohammed; E. H. Kamel; A. A. Al-Falahi and K. A. Saliem.2014. Study of soils suitability for various crops production in Abu-Ghraib using GIS

techniques. Iraqi J. Agric. Res. Vol. 19 No. 6. (Special Issue), Dec, 2014.

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18. Akroush, S; B. Dhehibi. (2015) Predicted Willingness of Farmers to Adopt Water Harvesting Technologies: A Case Study from the Jordanian Badia (Jordan), American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 15 (8): 1502-1513.

19. Jaafar, H.; R. Zurayk; C. King, F. Ahmad & R. Al-Outa, (2015): Impact of the Syrian conflict on irrigated agriculture in the Orontes Basin, International Journal of Water Resources Development, DOI: 10.1080/07900627.2015.1023892

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Appendix 2: WLI Benchmark Sites and Out-scaling areas

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Benchmark Sites Outscaling Areas and Strategies

Country Name Coordinates Area (ha) Comments

Egypt Damanhour 308.7 Old Lands of Nile Delta, & Upper Egypt

Zankalon Lat: 30 34’ 48 » N Lon: 31 25’ 54 » E

1,384

El Husseynia Lat: 30°59’33 »N Lon: 32° 2’51 »E 24,000 Salt-affected areas may be identifiable but map not up to date?

El Bustan Lat: 30º 11‘ 36“- 30º 43‘ 12“ North and Lon: 30º 23‘ 19“ - 30º 40‘ 23“ East.

21,000 Large desert area available for land reclamation. Dependent on canals or ground-water

Wadi Natrun 30o23’N,30 o21’E 10.92

Nubaria

Iraq Abu Ghraib Lat: 36°.68’’- 37°.06’’ Lon: 38°. 50’’ - 34°10’’

90,293 Irrigated Agroecosystems of Iraq

Jordan Muharab watershed

60 Outscaling strategy under development using land suitability analysis. Main activities take place on 17 ha at Majidyya

Karak 610 This is an outscaling area added in 2013

Mafraq This is an outscaling area added in 2013

Lebanon El Qaa 34˚21’30’’N, 36˚28’39’’E 4,800 The rest of the Orontes Basin inside Lebanon. Watershed is 138,000ha

Palestine Tammun Lat: 35° 22’ 53”

Lon: 32° 15’ 44”

25.820 km2 -Whole of West Bank? Outscaling strategy under development using land suitability analysis

Hebron Lat: 34° 55’ 43” Lon: 31° 23’ 12” 26.628km2 -Whole of West Bank? Outscaling strategy under development using land suitability analysis

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Syria El Gab 36◦ 19’ 44.44” E 35◦ 26’ 2.3994” N 9,877.057km2 PhD Students focusing on Upper Orontes Basin in Syria

Mukhtaria 36◦ 45’ 7.2” E 34◦ 50’ 31.1994” N PhD Students focusing on Upper Orontes Basin in Syria

Tunisia Bedoui N 33 27.492 E 010 31.252 First year of activity during 2013: no outscaling strategy or area defined

Megarine N33 19.599 E010 23.806 55ha First year of activity during 2013: no outscaling strategy or area defined

Oum Zessar N33 25.616 E 010 22.369 First year of activity during 2013: no outscaling strategy or area defined

Zoghmar N35 22.716 E009 21.232 2900ha First year of activity during 2013: Outscaling area: Sidi Bouzid region rainfed agrosystems

Cap Bon N 36 38.067 E 010 33.317 First year of activity during 2013: no outscaling strategy or area defined

Yemen Abyan Delta Lat:13˚04’-13˚18’ N, Lon:45˚08’-45˚30’ E

53,000ha Irrigated Agroecosystems of Yemen

(under discussion with USAID) Rainfed Agroecosystems of Yemen and Rangeland Agroecosystems of Yemen

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Appendix 3: Simplified M&E Plan for Operational Use at Country Level, 2015 (2-year timeframe)

Goal

NARRATIVE

VERIFIABLE INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION & GUIDE TO

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The goal of WLI is to improve the livelihoods of households and communities in the benchmark sites of the seven participating countries by increasing economic, social and educational opportunities through addressing the key priority issues identified in each country.

Improved rural livelihoods and on-farm incomes through improved and sustainable land and water management practices.

National and project statistics and research results.

Purpose To pilot test sustainable and integrated water, land use and livelihoods strategy in the benchmark sites for scaling up, which will optimize new and income generating crop and livestock activities.

Improved policies, methodologies, human capacity, technologies, extension systems and recommendations available to be adopted by additional sites within the seven participating countries.

Government reports, key NARES and other Ministry reports, project reports and publications.

Outputs 1. Integrated water and land-use strategies for policy-making, tools for sustainable benchmark management and organizational mechanisms for community inclusion at the benchmark sites.

1. Agricultural water use m3/ha/yr

2. Number of hectares under improved strategies and technologies

3. & 4. number of men and women applying improved strategies and technologies

1. see FTF 4.5-4

2. see FTF 4.5.2-2

3. & 4. see FTF4.5.2-34 &4.5.2-5

2. Enhanced knowledge, skills and qualifications for key stakeholders in the benchmark sites.

5. Number of institutions strengthened

6. Number of individuals trained

7. Stages of development of technologies and strategies

5. see FAF 4.8.2-14

6. see FTF 4.5.2-7

7. see FTF 4.5.2-39

3. Improved rural livelihoods of farmers in the benchmark sites through the adoption of sustainable land and water management practices and livelihood strategies.

8. Gross margin per hectare

9. Number of households benefitted

10. Number of associations benefitted

8. see FTF4.5-4

9. see FTF4.5.2-13

10. see FTF 4.5.2-11

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Appendix 4: Report on Selected FTF Indicators FTF Indicators Egypt Iraq Jordan Lebanon Palestine Tunisia Yemen Total

4.5.2(2):Number of hectares under improved technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance

1750 39 36 81 330.5 NA 3 2240

4.5.2(11): Number of food security private enterprises, producer’s organizations, fishing associations, water users’ associations, women’s groups, trade associations and CBOs receiving USG assistance

10 1 4 4 3 NA 2 24

4.5.2(7): Number of individuals who have received USG short-term agricultural sector productivity or food security training

105 141 50 112 168 37 0 613

4.5.2(39): Number of technologies or management practices in one of the following phases of development (under research, under field testing, and made available for transfer as a result of USG assistance)

6 14

15 18 8 14 2 77

4.5.2(34): Number of stakeholders implementing risk-

0 0 12 28 147 0 0 187

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reducing practices/actions to improve resilience to climate change as a result of USG assistance

4.5.2(5): Number of farmers and others who have applied new technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance

900 27 62 28 219 0 3 1239

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Appendix 5: WLI Country Research Teams Country Research Team Members

Egypt Dr. Ali Ismaiel (National Coordinator from ARC-SWERI) Dr. Hesham Mohamed (NWRC-WMRI) Dr. Hamdy Khalifa (ARC-SWERI) Dr. Mohamed Ismaiel (ARC-SWERI) Dr. Abdalla Mohamedin (ARC-SWERI) Dr. Khaled Abdel-Latif (ARC-SWERI) Dr. Samiha Ouda (ARC-SWERI) Dr. Shaban Salem (ARC-AERI) Dr. Hassan Abdel Mageed (ARC-AERI) Dr. Ali Ibrahim (Zagazig University) Dr. Gamal Fawzy (NWRC-WMRI) Prof. Abd El-Ghany El-Gindy (Ain Shams University) Dr. Richard Tutwiler (AUC) Dr. Tina Jaskolski (AUC) Prof. Mohamed El-Ansary (BU) Prof. Basem Ashour (Zagazig University) Dr. Mahmoud Attia (ARC-SWERI) Dr. Mahmoud El-Khouly (ARC-SWERI) Dr. Yousry Atta (NWRC-WMRI)

Iraq Eng. Saad Abd Ali Abbas (SBAR) Mr. Emad Hameed Kamal Alani (SBAR) Dr. Ahmad S. Muhaimeed (SBAR) Dr. Hadi Mahommed Karem (SBAR) Dr. Bassam K. Abdul Jabbar (SBAR) Dr. Ali Hassan Faraj (SBAR) Dr. Abdulkahlik Salih Neama (SBAR) Dr. Ahmad Adnan Ahmad (SBAR) Dr. Kasim Ahmed Saliem (SBAR) Mr. Wathiq Abdullqahar (SBAR) Dr. Ahmad Adnan Alfalahi (National Coordinator at SBAR) Mr. Emad Hameed Kamal Alani (SBAR) Ms. Amna Mohamed (SBAR)

Jordan Eng. Muna Saba (NCARE National Coordinator) Eng. Mutasem Khresat (NCARE) Safa Mazahreh (NCARE) Mohamed Mudabber (NCARE) Eng. Nedal Afayfeh (NCARE) Awad Kaabneh (NCARE) Eng.Afaf Madadha (NCARE) Eng.Rana Muhaisen (NCARE) Eng.Yahya Al-Satari(NCARE) Zein khrisat (NCARE) Safa Al Jafreh (NCARE) Wafa Abu Hammour (NCARE)

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Samia Akroush (NCARE) Omamah Hadidi (NCARE)

Lebanon Eng. Randa Massaad (National Coordinator at LARI) Dr. Ihab Jomaa (LARI) Eng. Sleiman Skaff (LARI) Eng. Chafic Estephan (LARI) Dr. Elia Choueiri (LARI) Eng. Ali Chehade (LARI) Mr. Ahmed Bitar (LARI) Eng. Rabih Kabalan(LARI) Mr. Fadi Naddaf (LARI) Eng. Darine Haddad (LARI) Eng. Nisrine El Hajj (LARI) Dr. Hadi Jaafar (AUB) Dr. Nadim Farajallah (AUB)

Palestine Mr. Nader Hrimat (ARIJ) Dr. Mohammad Alsalimiya (LRC) Dr. Rezq Basheer-Salimia (HU) Dr. Eyad Badran- (NARC) Dr. Zaher Barghouthi-(NARC- National Coordinator of Palestine Team)

Tunisia Houcine Khatteli (IRA) Mohamed Ouessar (National Coordinator at IRA) Kamel Nagaz (IRA) Mongi Ben Zaied (IRA) Fathia El Mokh (IRA) Amal Hachani (IRA) Abderrahmen Sghaier (IRA) Mongi Sghaier (IRA) Mohamed Abdeladhim (IRA) Riadh Bechir (IRA) Mohamed Ben Hammouda (INRAT) Mohamed Annabi (INRAT) Hatem Cheik Mhamed (INRAT) Salah Ben Youssef (INRAT) Hamed Daly-Hassen (INRAT) Najoua Esaaidi, Engineer (INRAT) Maher Bel Haj Kacem, Engineer student (INRAT) Netij Ben Mechlia (INAT) Hammadi Habaieb (INAT) Moncef Masmoudi (INAT) Nabil Sghaier (INAT) Asma Lasram (INAT) Nawal Temani Zayani (INAT)

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Yemen Eng. Ahmed Hassan Salem (AREA) Eng. Ryad Ahmed Mohamed (AREA) Eng. Ali Ahmed Yehya (AREA) Tech. Anwar Mabrook (AREA) Eng. Abdullah Qassem Magram (AREA) Eng. Sina Mahfood Ali (AREA) Samir Abdullrahman Mohamed (AREA) Khader Balam Atroosh (National Coordinator from AREA)

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Appendix 6: Members of the WLI Steering Committee

Members: ARC, Egypt Prof. Dr. Hani Ramadan, Vice President for Extension and Training,

Agriculture Research Center (ARC)

SBAR, Iraq Dr. Ahmad Alfalahi, State of Board for Agricultural Research (SBAR), Ministry of Agriculture

NCARE, Jordan Dr. Samia Akroosh, Socio-economic component leader, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension (NCARE) on behalf of Dr. Fawzi Al-Sheyab, Director General, National Center for Agricultural research and Extension (NCARE)

LARI, Lebanon Eng. Randa Massad, WLI Focal Person, Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) on behalf of Mr. Michel Afram, General Director, Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI)

MoA, Palestine Dr. Mokhalled Salaimeh, on behalf of Dr. Kasim Abdo, Deputy Minister Assistant for Natural Resources Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture

IRA, Tunisia Dr. Elyes Hamza, DG - Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (INAT)

AREA, Yemen Dr. Mansoor Mohamed Alaqel, Chairman, Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA)

USAID Dr. Scott Christiansen, Senior Agricultural Advisor, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

US Universities Dr. Sandra Russo, Director, International Center, University of Florida (UF)

Regional Universities Dr. Omar Kafawin, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jordan (UJ)

ICARDA WLI Manager Mr. Kristofer Dodge, Integrated Water and Land Management Program (IWLMP)

Invited Observers: NWMI, Egypt Dr. Hisham, Director of the national Water Management Institute.

NARC, Palestine Dr. Naser Sholi, WLI Focal Person, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), West Bank

AREA, Yemen WLI-Yemen - socio-economic activities on behalf of Dr. Khader Atrrosh, WLI Focal Person, Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA)

IRA, Tunisia Dr. Mohamed Ouessar, WLI Focal Person, Institute of Arid Regions-Medenine (IRA)

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ICARDA IWLMP Ms. Bezaiet Dessalegn, M&E and Gender Specialist

Mr. Nidal Damati, Communications and Program Management Specialist

ICARDA Iraq Dr. Kasim Ahmed Salim, National Coordinator of ICARDA/Iraq

ICARDA Lebanon Dr. Hassan Machlab, Country Manager, ICARDA/Lebanon

ICARDA Palestine Dr. Abdallah Alimari, National Coordinator –ICARDA/Palestine

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