Rural communities
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Working in rural communities
JOHUD has more than thirty years' experience working in rural communities in Jordan. When its network of community development centres was expanded in the mid 1980s,JOHUD actively sought to locate them in the more remote locations, so that people living there would also have access to services such as education, health, welfare and agricultural extension. As a result, some 35 of JOHUD's 50 CDCs can be classified as rural or semir-rural. We therefore place a strong emphasis on agricultural and environmental programmes.
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Many of the CDCs, such as Ma'an, Irbid, and Tafileh which are located in areas are now classified as 'urban' also retain an emphasis on such programmes - because the people who use the CDC still retain their social, economic and cultural identity with rural livelihoods.
The CDC often provides outreach to communities living in peri-urban communities, and many people from rural communities come to the CDC to find out about the services that are available only in towns - access to social assistance, health services, tertiary education and, increasingly access to information about markets and employment opportunities.
The CDCs provide an essential bridge that helps reduce the gaps between different sectors of the population.
Agriculture
JOHUD's programme of targeted support to rural communities focuses mainly on agricultural systems. JOHUD helps farmers to work together and t form associations to increase efficiency and also to have more of a voice in local and national policy decision. For more details of JOHUD's agricultural projects click here
Water
JOHUD implements water projects in both rural and urban communities, with grey water management and water harvesting. In rural communities these tend to be complemented by interventions that promote sustainable farming systems. So, for example, JOHUD promotes improved irrigation systems that deliver 'more crop per drop'. For more details of JOHUD's water related projects click here and for the impact of water related projects click here
Rural products
The rural community tend to depend on the natural environment for their livelihoods - primarily through the growing of crops and the raising of livestock. JOHUD works to help them market their goods more efficiently - through working in associations, sharing transport and storage, and through creating linkages to supply chains. JOHUD helps train associations in food processing, helping them make preserves such as jam, pickles, vinegar, cheese, dried herbs etc so that they can use surplus harvest and leverage a higher price.
Rural markets
JOHUD helps farmers to sell their goods, and operates rural markets in some of the CDCs. Recognising that 'farm-gate prices' are insufficient to guarantee stable livelihoods for poor farmers, JOHUD has also established a farmers market, 'Souq al Ard, where small farmers can sell their product direct to customers. In this way, JOHUD is also able to encourage the application of sustainable farming methods such as organics, permaculture and integrated pest management, by ensuring that such producers receive a high price for their products. For more details of farmers market click here
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Facts & figures
2006/07
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25 CDCs located in rural communities
10 CDCs based in towns that serve rural people
45+ farmers associations involved with JOHUD activities
500+ training days in rural skills delivered
50 farrmers markets held locally and in Amman
50+ rural communities involved in water projects
25+ grey water / home gardens established
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The context for our work
Selected analysis from the NHDR 2004
"Jordan's development choices are constrained by its weak natural asset base, particularly its inadequate access to water coupled with limited available fertile land.
"Extended cycles of drought have led to over-exploitation of existing water stocks and decreased soil and livestock fertility in agricultural areas.
"As elsewhere, when resources are limited and access is constrained, it is often the poor who suffer most.
"The poor among rural communities are gradually abandoning agriculture and livestock as a livelihood strategy
Source: NHDR 2004
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