This study examines the length and structure of farm cropping in the East
Jordan Valley. A statistical technique called crop combination analysis has
been used to analyze and classify the crop pattern data of about ١٥٠٠ farm
units in the middle ar
ea of the East Jordan Valley (blocks no. ١٩-٢٤), in the
third stage of the King Abdullah Canal Project.
This paper used crop combination analysis to classify and map the
distribution of over ١٥٠٠ small farms which make up the middle part of the
King Abdullah Canal Project, Jordan. The analysis showed that most of the
farms are of a single enterprise
type with vegetable growers predominant in
winter and permanent trees in summer. Enterprises based on fruit trees were
found to be common in the northern parts while cereal farms were common in
the south. A minority of farms were of dual enterprises, mainly mixing
vegetable production with tree crops. The reasons for these spatial variations in
enterprises were discussed. With limitations imposed on cropping by the
summer drought, and irrigation supplies are being less reliable, most cropping
was confined to the winter season. About ٤٠ percent of the farms was entirely
idle in the summer and most of the others only operate at a low level of
intensity.
