This study is one of a series of IFAD/PN joint activities with the FAO/Investment Centre(FAO/IC) undertaken during 2006/2007. Its main objective is to provide IFAD and its partners with updated knowledge about the status of rural poverty in the NENA region to enhance their capacity to design and implement more...

Many of Jordan’s rural poor people live in extremely difficult conditions. This fact sheet briefly analyses the main constraints they face: limited access to alternative sources of income, limited opportunities to diversify their farming enterprises because of low rainfall, poor soil quality and the topography of the land that they...

 The fact sheet briefly analyses the root causes of poverty in the country.  More than two million rural people have been displaced by the Darfur conflict alone. In addition, erosion, loss of soil fertility and damage to watersheds are affecting resources. Agricultural productivity is decreasing as a result of a...

In aggregate terms there is no lack of water in the Mediterranean Region. But geographical distribution of rainfall is very uneven and there is a marked shortage of water in the South and East. Using the Falkenmark water stress index (less than 1000 m³/inhabitant/year) as a benchmark, we find that...

ICARDA’s mission is to alleviate poverty by improving the livelihoods of farming communities. Often, the key is to add value to primary crop and livestock outputs. This issue of Caravan provides glimpses of the Center’s work to help farmers and pastoralists add value to their products, and thereby improve their...

an dryland communities cope with the global changes sweeping the world today? Is their predicament limited to their difficulty of building livelihoods on precarious natural resources? Can development research and external interventions offer any sustainable and fruitful partnerships to this end? This book relates the story of a relationship between...

 study was conducted to evaluate small ruminant production systems and productivity in the northern area of Lebanon. Fifty-one small ruminant holders were monitored over two years focusing on the technical and economic situation of the herd. Another 19 farmers were covered by a technical and economic questionnaire of analysis in...

This issue of Caravan looks at different aspects of desertification; and how ICARDA and its partners are working together to help farming communities find effective, sustainable solutions. These collaborative efforts have generated significant impacts at community level – higher crop yields, more sustainable farming systems, more incomegenerating opportunities for the...

Jordan is a chronically water-scarce country, and less than five per cent of the land is arable. For farmers, little or no rainfall means severely reduced cultivation and production – and increased hunger and poverty. Those who find other ways to supplement their incomes generally earn very little. To address...

Le secteur agricole des pays du Maghreb est caractérisé par des petites et moyennes exploitations agricoles qui de part leur nombre (plus de 3 millions) et leur diversité (élevage, céréaliculture mais aussi légumes, fruits, oléiculture, phœnicoptéridé), constituent des acteurs importants dans le développement et le fonctionnement du secteur agricole. Cependant,...

With the most acute water-deficit in the world, the Near East Region challenge for economic and social development is likely to be jeopardized unless drastic measures are taken. The increasing need for water stems from population growth, national economies based primarily on agriculture and harsh climatic conditions and climate change...

For nearly three decades the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has focused its mission on helping developing countries turn agriculture into an engine of propoor, sustainable economic growth. Conflicts and natural disasters have often interfered with this mission, and disrupted the long-term work in strengthening human and institutional...

This issue of Caravan provides examples of ICARDA's work with its partners to help ensure sustainability of livelihoods for the poor in marginal areas.

Cette étude a pour objectifs d’identifier les principaux types d’élevage caprin existant dans la région de Chefchaouen dans le Rif marocain, décrire leurs modes de fonctionnement, identifier et analyser les principales contraintes auxquelles ils sont soumis et établir un agenda de recherche et de développement prioritaire pour l’amélioration de la...

Les parcours steppiques, région d’élevage ovin, sont marqués depuis plusieurs décennies par une forte dégradation et une réduction du couvert végétal spontané. Les principales causes de cette dégradation sont le changement du système pastoral traditionnel vers un système de production agro-pastoral, mal maîtrisé, et le déclin de l’organisation sociale tribale...

Au Maroc la culture d’orge est connue pour son importance agronomique, zootechnique et socio- économique. Différents projets de recherche et développement ont été conduits ces dernières quinze années dans la province de Khouribga qui est considérée comme région pilote en matière de production d’orge et d’ovins. L’objectif des essais était...

Les politiques agricoles et agroalimentaires suivie~ au niv~au des pays d~ Grand Maghreb ont ete toutes marquees par l'empnse de l'~tat qUI a do~e lieu a des mesures complexes de soutien des prix, de subventIOns aux prodUlts alimentaires de base visant, particulierement, a soutenir les strategies na· tionales de securite...

Local agricultural knowledge in dry-land land-use systems is centred on the conservation, use and optimisation of soil moisture and soil organic matter. Additionally, biodiversity is carefully managed and nurtured to interface with hydrological and nutrient cycling to provide for ecosystem resilience, food security and diversity, and risk minimisation.

Nowhere is the link between the environment and poverty more pronounced than in highly fragile ecosystems, where inhabitants are often compelled to degrade natural resources as they struggle to survive on inhospitable land. IFAD’s drive to break this vicious cycle has led to the development of a number of replicable...

This project, designed to reduce rural poverty, focused particularly on small farmers, unemployed young people and rural women. It was in line with the government's strategic development aims in mountain areas with a high incidence of poverty.  The project served as a platform for continuing policy dialogue with the government on...