The goal of the programme is to re-establish the productive capacity of Jordan’s rangeland and realize its significant environmental, social, cultural and economic contribution for present and future generations.
The
programme was intended to:
- provide policy-makers with reliable up-to-date information on the status of rangeland resources;
- develop a national pastoral resource assessment and monitoring system for the rangelands;
- enhance environmental awareness in the utilization of rangeland resources;
- develop a methodology of participatory planning with local communities for the rehabilitation and management of grazing resources; and
- assist beneficiaries and target communities to implement and periodically
revise rangeland management plans.
By the end of the third year of implementation, it was necessary to reformulate the first phase, following the recommendations of IFAD supervision mission reports. Achievements varied widely among components; activities that were independent of social aspects and climatic conditions tended to perform better. Factors beyond the control of the programme that had negative effects included:
- severe drought affecting the entire Badia area from the time of programme start-up;
- the confusing land-tenure system of the rangelands, which exacerbated complicated social issues; and
- complex, time-consuming administrative procedures, mainly related to expenditure modalities and processing.
Significant progress was made, however. A useful basis was established for future projects in Jordan, including:
- establishment of a pastoral resources information monitoring and evaluation (PRIME) unit;
- development of a national strategy for rangeland development;
- creation of a rangeland directorate in the Ministry of Agriculture; and
- demonstration of the importance of water harvesting as the basis for regeneration of rangeland vegetation.
| In view of the economic, social and cultural importance of livestock production, the Government has implemented various efforts to alleviate its precarious situation over the last 60 years. From the 1940s until the end of the 1980s, programmes were mainly oriented towards combating desertification and protecting natural resources. Valuable technical packages were provided by the Government on a top-down basis, but there was no investigation of sustainable management tools. Since the early 1990s, however, the Government has
introduced fundamental changes in rangeland rehabilitation strategy.
The aim is to increase the efficiency of interventions by associating
rural societies in the development and management of resources.
Phase I of the programme is testing this new approach, whose main
output is not expected to be immediate forage improvement on a large
scale, but development of means for sustainable rehabilitation and
management programmes in the future, when users will be fully engaged.
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| Planned |
Achieved |
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| To recruit staff, including:
To organize four training courses on participatory approach techniques. To establish a rangeland management group in each
pilot area.
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Staff were recruited. 155 people, a small minority of beneficiaries, benefited from participatory training. Rangeland management groups were formed at the programme sites. In some cases, members not involved in livestock rearing were included. A directorate of rangelands was created; a long-term
strategy for rangeland development and rehabilitation was developed;
and a new law on agricultural policy was drafted, including a tenure
system for rangelands.
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The rangelands support about 88 500 people in 12 200 livestock-owning households. Livestock owners and herders owe traditional allegiances to their tribes and respect land-use patterns. In recent decades, however, the rangelands have been deteriorating: declines in production and plant diversity are mirrored by a decrease in flora biomass. Rangeland is being encroached upon as extensive farming becomes more widespread in areas unsuited to arable cropping, which is often undertaken to achieve ownership rights rather than for production. Wildlife is now in serious decline, largely because of hunting and the deterioration of natural grazing. |
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Planned |
Achieved |
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| To implement rangeland management plans, including:
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None of the beneficiary groups fully implemented the rangeland management plans. However:
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Animal disease is a major cost for livestock
owners. Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), foot-and-mouth disease
(FMD) and bluetongue are endemic, causing debilitation rather than
death. Internal and external parasites and nasal bots are significant
problems. The effectiveness of government vaccination is low. Drugs,
drenches and insecticides are available from private sector pharmacies.
There are extensive opportunities for increased production as a
result of improved animal health and husbandry. The incidence of
disease is reportedly made worse by the presence of large numbers
of animals in transit through Jordan, for example 350 000 sheep
in 1996. |
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| Planned | Achieved | |
To control internal parasites and enterotoxaemia. To demonstrate the advantages of strategic drenching by conducting a trial on about 10% of settled flocks. To demonstrate veterinary practices to combat enterotoxaemia. |
No information is yet available on the implementation of these activities. |
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- Rangeland projects may need to clarify the land-tenure system and rights to resources. Development activities should be coordinated with other components.
- Training should be synchronized with the phases of project implementation. Individuals involved in training must be thoroughly briefed about project components and assisted by the project management unit to avoid contradictions and ensure effective follow-up once training is completed.
- Baseline studies to provide information on social structures and the potential for regeneration of natural resources should be carried out prior to contact with beneficiaries.
- Project success may be encouraged by:
- experience in implementing previous projects;
- development of competition among rural communities to develop their resources; and
- effective, self-managed cooperatives of herders.
