Launched in 2020 by Zikra for Popular Learning, the Al-Barakeh Wheat Project is a grassroots response to Jordan’s near total dependence on imported wheat and the erosion of traditional agricultural practices. It aims to revive native wheat varieties that once made the country self-sufficient, reclaiming vacant plots of land in Amman for collective cultivation.
The project began with an open call for residents to share unused land for communal farming. Participants contribute to basic costs, work alongside experienced farmers, and share the harvest equally. Families often involve their children, turning farming into a space for learning, memory, and connection with the land, restoring community agency over food and resources.
Since its first season, Al-Barakeh Wheat has grown rapidly, attracting community members in cultivating and harvesting land across Amman, and achieving economic sustainability through selling local wheat produce. Spreading to other Jordanian cities and beyond, it embodies Zikra’s commitment to grassroots learning, collective action, cultural heritage and solidarity.
