Jordan farm in Irbid cuts irrigation water use by 35% with EBRD-backed financing
An EBRD-backed programme helped the Al Shara’a brothers in Irbid, Jordan, replace traditional irrigation with a drip system. The farm reduced water consumption by 35%, according to the EBRD, as Jordan faces growing water stress. The Green Economy Financing Facility, supported by the EBRD, EU and Green Climate Fund, aims to help farmers invest in climate-resilient technologies.
In Irbid, northern Jordan, the Al Shara’a brothers had depended on conventional irrigation and bought water tanks for potatoes and other seasonal crops. With support from the EBRD’s Green Economy Financing Facility, they installed drip irrigation that sends water to plant roots. The EBRD reports this cut farm water use by 35%.
The facility is backed by the EBRD, the European Union and the Green Climate Fund. It aims to help Jordanian farmers and other market participants adopt green technologies. The reported result illustrates how climate-focused finance can support agricultural resilience in a country facing intensifying water constraints.
For farming households in water-scarce areas like Irbid, lower irrigation demand could ease pressure on limited supplies and may reduce some costs tied to purchased water. Neighboring communities and downstream users might benefit if similar upgrades spread, though outcomes may depend on financing access, maintenance, and local water governance. Development groups may view the case as a possible model for climate-resilient agriculture.