Justa Mayra Hopma
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While completing an undergraduate degree in International Politics & Geography at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth I participated in an archaeological project in the Wadi Arabah, Jordan where I returned the next year to conduct fieldwork for my MPhil dissertation at the University of Oxford. At present I live in Amman where I combine my PhD research with an internship at the Dutch Embassy. Email: jmh23@aber.ac.uk |
Research on Land-grabbing:
Jordanian food security and agricultural investments overseas, particularly in Sudan
This study investigates the nature of Jordanian agricultural investments overseas. Jordan is the world’s 4th poorest country in water resources and its attempts at securing future food supplies are inherently related to its water situation. Driven by water scarcity, it has investigated possible joint ventures in various areas in Sudan. In some respects, Jordan’s policy decision to look abroad, however, is ironic because its own “indigenous” Bedouin population used to specialise in, for example, pastoralist livestock production. Bedouin economies and modes of life, however, have been systematically undermined and Bedouin are now encouraged to become cash croppers producing tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelons (~90% water content) for cheap export to Gulf countries. The export of “virtual water” is contrary to Jordanian interests and can be regarded as “irrational” policy. This study investigates the rationale behind Jordanian agricultural policy and the problems surrounding its implementation.
