ECONOMIC-ANALYSIS OF THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF FARMING PRACTICES IN THE BARLEY CROPPING AREA OF JORDAN

The sustainability of agricultural practices is an important determina nt of the ability to meet the growing food needs of future generations in developing countries. But sustainable agricultural practices will not be adopted by farmers unless current farm income levels are mainta ined. The Erosion Productivity Impact Model (EPIC), a whole-farm model , and budget analysis are used to evaluate both the short-run profitab ility and the long-run sustainability of a number of agricultural prac tices in the Mafraq region of Jordan. While only a few technologies ex ceed current practices in terms of short-run benefits, a number of tec hnologies provide long-term benefits due to enhanced soil productivity . A combination of technologies, such as a fertilized barley-vetch rot ation (instead of the traditional barley-weedy fallow rotation), may p rovide the most feasible means of maintaining current farm incomes whi le also enhancing the sustainability of area agriculture.