Crop-livestock and feed systems have huge importance for Mediterranean regions to satisfy the increasing demand for animal products, increase the economic stability of smallholders and produce typical animal products with high added-value, while contributing to sustainable farming, environment protection and efficient nutrient cycling. These systems are threatened, however, by the...

The Al-Dhala Community Resource Management Project (ADCRMP) [IFAD Loan 638-YE] aims to support sustainable and equitable growth of rural living standards and greater livelihood security for vulnerable households in the remote and isolated Al Dhala Governorate through better management of their resource base. The specific objectives are to: (i) empower...

The historic oasis of Gafsa covers 700 ha and dates back to ancient times of history. In this oasis, crop diversification and cultivation and the integration of livestock and breeding animals are commonly practiced as means for livelihood subsistence. Crop diversification is conducted in three stages: the first stage is...

This study on gender and livelihood aims to find new ways of improving the incomes of rural households, based on the role of women in agricultural production and the division of labor in socioeconomic activities between men and women. It targets eight villages in two regions: Merek (Kermanshah Province) and...

This issue of Caravan looks to the field to present approaches and examples that have been developed through our research with partners in many dryland countries, and can be deployed to benefit smallholder farmers in many more locations. These technologies bring resistance to drought, temperature extremes, or diseases that damage and...

The CRP on Dryland Systems is all about integration: between different research disciplines, between biophysical and socio-economic factors, between crop farming and pastoralism, between research and development. The program aims to develop new technologies, new livelihood opportunities, stronger local institutions, enabling policies to support technology adoption, and ultimately higher incomes...

This issue of Caravan describes the new program, and some of the research innovations it will build on. The issue begins with two ‘opinion pieces’ by scientists from partner organizations in the CRP. They share lessons learnt from past successes (and failures), and ideas that could be applied to dryland systems...

After years of war and social unrest, Iraq is facing a number of challenges that are common to all sectors of the economy, amongst which the most important are the deteriorated state of the social and economic infrastructure, the disruption of the social fabric of the society and the increased...

The report stresses progress in linking research innovations to results in farmers' fields in a number of areas. These research-for-development initiatives are testing technology and policy packages with farmers in their production situations. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa ICARDA leads the wheat component of the regional initiative on Support to...

This manual on Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) is based primarily on the direct experience derived from several years of implementing PPB programmes in a number of countries and on a number of crops, and secondly, from a number of training courses (China, Ethiopia, Jordan, Australia, South Africa) and when necessary,...

In the Maghreb countries, because of structural drought, recent livestock production policies have relied heavily on irrigation. This aimed to secure animal protein supply by using water to grow fodder. Such choices have led many smallholder farms to rear cattle in typical dual purpose (both milk and meat) systems. In...

Partnerships are IFAD’s main mode of operation. The Fund is, in fact, a unique partnership of members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), other developing countries, and member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). IFAD works with developing country governments, poor rural people’s...

A survey of 70 goat herders from Aït Bazza rural commune in the eastern part of the Middle Atlas Mountains has been carried out. Its aim was to characterize goat production systems. The survey was part of a research-development study on meat goats. Using a purposive sampling framework, all 11...

A questionnaire was conducted with 92 goat owners in three areas, each one representing one of the most prevalent production systems in Egypt. Bio-economic data were collected and submitted to costbenefit analysis. When family labor cost was included as an opportunity cost, the economic analysis revealed a break even for...

Goat population in Tunisia is around 1.5 million concentrated in the arid regions, mainly in the South. The local genotype (Arbi) is the most prevalent and kid meat is the main product from this breeding. Two breeding systems were identified: pastoral and agro-pastoral systems. The averages of fertility, fecundity and...

In Morocco, goat keeping is one of the most ancient economic activities in communities of the High and Middle Atlas Mountains. Goats may be the main all year round source of income and contribute to the satisfaction of primary nutritional requirements of rural livelihoods. Studies on the technical, environmental, social,...

The Near East and North Africa region is one of the world's driest and most water-scarce regions. In many areas in the region, demand for water already outstrips supply. To some degree, the region has an advantage in that its inhabitants have been adapting to high temperatures and water scarcity...

The Republic of Yemen is one of the driest, poorest and least developed countries in the world. Poverty and food insecurity are strongly linked with the depletion and degradation of land and water resources and it is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. IFAD’s goal in Yemen...

Une étude typologique de l’élevage pastoral des petits ruminants dans les régions arides tunisiennes a permis d’illustrer les impacts des mutations socio économiques sur les structures et le fonctionnement technique du secteur. Les données issues de 180 enquêtes auprès des troupeaux de 4 gouvernorats du sud ont été analysées par...

Le projet pilote RIM (Réseau des irrigants méditerranéens) a permis de réaliser des formations professionnelles sur les économies d’eau en irrigation et le développement des filières, au bénéfice de groupements paysans de l’agriculture familiale au Maghreb. Le projet a connu deux phases au Maroc (phase 1 : 2008-2009 et phase...