Ajlun Cluster
Saplings and the fruits of labor
Governorate: Ajlun
Cluster Villages: Ibbin-Ibillin, Ras Munif, Samta
Community Type: Rural
Location
The Ajlun Cluster is located in the northern part of the Governorate of Ajlun, 10 km from the city’s center, and about 80 km north of the capital, Amman. The Governorate of Ajlun is rich in natural, agricultural and human resources and RCCDP has provided a range of opportunities to utilize such resources for the benefit of local farmers and residents.
Description
The cluster is situated at a high altitude ranging from 1,193 meters above sea level (Ibbin-Ibillin) to 1,290 meters (Ras Munif), the highest settlement in the country. The geography is mostly mountainous and rugged with rocky outcrops and woodlands along the higher elevations. The cluster’s total population is 10,117 inhabitants, concentrated in the village of Ibbin-Ibillin. The area has an annual precipitation of over 600 mm. The majority of residents rely on agriculture as a source of income.
Problems and Challenges Facing the Area
• High unemployment rates, especially among youth.
• The water supply network to the villages is intermittent, and residents sometimes have to purchase supplemental supplies from tanker trucks.
• The village municipalities dispose of municipal solid waste at the Kufranja Waste Dump. The Dump serves the whole Governorate, and is not well managed; residents complain of bad smells and insects.
• There is an absence of a proper liquid waste disposal system throughout the cluster. Residents rely on septic tanks, which are emptied by hired trucks.
• The lack of manufacturing activity and the limited commercial activity in the cluster reflects the lack of investment in these sectors. There are no lending institutions operational in the area.
• There is a health care center in each of the cluster villages, with a doctor visiting every other day. The nearest hospital is in Ajlun City, about 10 km away.
• In the village of Ibbin-Ibillin, approximately 20 percent of residents work outside the village and return on weekends.
• There are no stores in the villages aside from a couple of small shops selling small items. For other items, villagers travel to larger towns nearby.
• The absence of cooperation and support among community members.
• Lack of any recreational facilities or centers.
Problems Facing the Agricultural Sector
• The area’s amount of production is disproportional to the existing market, causing farmers to suffer from significant waste and depressed prices for their fruit production.
• Increased competition from imported products and lack of proper marketing strategies result in a decrease in sales.
• Most farmers grow the same type of crops (such as olive and apple trees) with no knowledge of the compatibility of the area’s climate with the growth of more diverse crops.
• As most of the agriculture is rain-fed, the fluctuations in annual rainfall result in varying levels of agricultural production quantity and quality.
• Large amounts of rainwater go to waste every year.
• Although the area in general is primarily agricultural, only a small percent of the land is planted.
Addressing the Local Needs of the Area
These challenges area were addressed by creating a cold storage, food processing facility and nursery for cultivating and distributing new varieties of fruit. By purchasing some produce and renting storage space to farmers with small businesses in the area, the Cooperative will enable farmers to increase profits by controlling when to market their produce.
RCCDP built the first large-scale rainwater-harvesting pond in the area. A polyethylene membrane lining will enable the pond to retain 35,000m3 of water, while the recreational facility surrounding this pond will be a tourism attraction during the summer.
As a result of JRF's leadership in RCCDP, other project ideas in Ajlun have been realized - the Ajlun Eco-Tourism Project and the Master Plan Study for Ajlun Tourism Development.
