1- Aim of the project

The project aims to enhance the animal productivity in the Badia without adding pressure to rangeland resources by providing the herders’ community with a package of incentives, such as vaccines, mobile clinic, animal dips, milking machines, mini-dairy units, improved Awassi sheep, feed blocks manufacturing units, fodder cultivation equipment, livestock market and a slaughterhouse.

2- Project Agreements

During 2011-2014, the MoEnv signed several agreements with relevant stakeholders for the provision of incentives to reduce losses in animal production and to enhance animal productivity per head. The following Table summarizes the agreements and the activities during 2011-2014.

The MoA/NCARE is responsible for implementing the above activities except the training of paravets (activity 13) which was the responsibility of Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), the Higher Council for Sceince and Technology/Badia Research and Development Center (HCST/BRDC) and the Department of Veterinary at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA/DV).

3- Achieved Activities/Outputs

Activity 1: Enhancing awareness and conducting extension

This activity was coordinated between the Field Crew Unit (FCU) of BRP and the Public Awareness Section within the Rangeland Department.  Eight workshops were conducted in the northern Badia on animal feeding, rangeland management, and zoonosis.  Around 34 and 21 stockowners participated in the 1^st and 2^nd workshops, respectively.

Activity 2: Assessment of livestock market system (under implementation)

Activity 3: Establishment of livestock market and slaughter house

The first slaughter house/animal market was established in Sabha, in northern Badia.  The second slaughter house/animal market will be established in Al-Qatraneh/Karak Governorate, based on the consultations of stockowners, directorates of MoA, municipalities, and FCU.

Activity 4: Provision of improved Awassi sheep

The MoEnv signed three agreements with MoA/NCARE for the provision of improved Awassi sheep (133 rams and 972 ewes) according to certain specifications (e.g. age, body weight, health, parity, soundness of udder and teats, fertility…).  The reported numbers of distributed Awassi sheep were 226 and 354 head in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014, respectively.

The MoEnv, MoA/NCARE established a committee to set the criteria for eligible households to receive the improved sheep.  In 2012, the focus was on poor families that lost their herds during the Gulf Crises, later the focus was on farmers and Rangeland Cooperatives.  

Activity 5: Provision of feed block manufacturing units

This incentive was stated in the CAP document.  Seven locally manufactured feed block units were distributed. 

Activity 6: Provision of milking machines

The provision of milking machine was stated in the CAP document.  Forty-five milking machines (30 in 2012 and 15 in 2013) were distributed to local cooperatives and farmers in the northern and middle Badia. The FCU trained the farmers and cooperatives on using and maintenance of these machines.

Activity 7: Provision of solar units

Activity 8: Construction of mini-dairy units

Activity 9: Renovation of veterinary laboratories

Activity 10: Vaccination of sheep and goat flocks

Around 1.1 million head of sheep and goats were vaccinated and the delivered veterinary services were highly appreciated by stockowners.  The vaccinated 1.1 million head of sheep and goats were owned by the stockowners of the Badia whereas the 3.6 million head received the barley grain incentives were owned by the stockowners in the whole country.

Activity 11: Training Paravet

The MoEnv signed three agreements with JUST, HCST and MoA to train 25, 15 and 34 paravets, respectively; a total of 74.  A selection committee was established and developed a set of criteria to select suitable candidates from local communities for training. The graduated paravets were distributed among the MoA directorates in the area.  The training consists of theoretical and practical components. Details on paravet training are presented in the following Table.

Activity 12: Provision of mobile clinics

Ten mobile clinics were distributed to MoA directorates, 7 in 2012/2013 and 3 in 2013/2014.  The mobile clinics were manufactured by KADDB Company. Only one mobile clinic is used directly by this project.

Activity 13: Provision of sheep dips

Out of the twelve dips were purchased, eleven were distributed (6 in 2012 and 5 in 2013) to MoA Directorates to help stockowners controlling the external parasites prevailing in some localities.  These parasites reduce animal productivity substantially and may lead to death. The stockowners appreciate this type of veterinary services.  The achievement story of the sheep dips is similar to those of mobile clinics. The overall achievements of improving livestock productivity project are summarized in the following Table.