SOCIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SOIL-LESS FARMING SYSTEM -AN COMPARATIVE EVIDENCE FROM JORDAN, THE MIDDLE EAST

The soilless farming system is an exclusive technique of growing plants with the out use of soil in the large-scale farms owned by a few exporters in Jordan. The research offers an economic analysis of this soilless system for sustainable water and land use. It deals with the socio-economic compared to the conventional farming system. Two types of questionnaires were used to collect data from both systems; 32 and 68 farms, respectively. The socioeconomics was analyzed using cost-benefit Analysis. The results show the efficiency of the soilless system concerning irrigation, enhancing agricultural productivity and returns. The adopters receive a higher income, where 40% of them get more income compared to 20% in the conventional system. Furthermore, the cost-benefit analysis confirms its high profitability according to different indicators. The economic, and environmental benefits are sufficient and convincing reasons to make soilless agriculture the most agricultural practical method to accommodate growing trends in sustainability and development.