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The economic contribution of camel-based livestock systems in North-African drylands: the case of East and South Moroccan provinces
Author(s): Amsidder, Lina; Alary, Veronique; Duteurtre, Guillaume; Mnaouer, Ihssane (SpringerOpen (part of Springer Nature))
Date: 2024-09-12
Type: Journal Article
Status: Open access
In Africa, camel herding is often viewed as a subsistence or ancient activity restricted to marginal drylands and arid or desert zones. However, camel products are increasingly sold in many cities, and camels are more and more used for tourist purposes. We can also see various public or private interventions in the arid zones aiming to develop processing units for milk or meat based on a business model. This present research aimed to evaluate the multiple economic and non-economic contributions of camel activities in North African drylands through analysis at the household and territorial levels using a multifunctional approach. Based on a study in five provinces of East and South Morocco, this article proposes a framework based on rural livelihoods and ecosystemic services for assessing the contribution of camel rearing to the rural economy and territorial development. It highlighted the multiple economic and non-economic functions of this activity, including domestic, trade, and services, as well as cultural attachment and local knowledge. We conclude by discussing current changes in camel herding, between supporting specialization for value chain participation and maintaining the overall sustainability of the camel systems in dryland areas.
Multi-dimensional impact assessment for priority setting of agricultural technologies: An application of TOPSIS for the drylands of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
Author(s): Gbegbelegbe, Sika; Alene, Arega; Nedumaran, Swamikannu; Frija, Aymen (PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE)
Date: 2024-11-21
Type: Journal Article
Status: Open access
The importance for multi-dimensional priority-setting of agricultural innovations is growing, given that agricultural technologies usually play multiple roles for smallholder farmers. This study assesses agricultural technologies based on their multi-dimensional impacts in the drylands of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The study applies the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to a set of promising agricultural technologies and uses three outcome criteria: the benefit-cost ratio, poverty reduction, and nutrition security. The technologies are related to important cereals and grain legumes grown in these regions: sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet; groundnut, cowpea, chickpea, lentil, pigeon pea, and soybean. The results show that the top technologies based on individual criteria can differ from the top technologies identified using a combination of criteria. For example, in semi-arid southern Africa, a promising technology which involves integrated pest management for cowpea ranks among the top five technologies which can reduce poverty. However, the analysis involving TOPSIS shows that nutrition security is more important in that region compared to poverty. As such, the top 5 technologies with the highest multi-dimensional impact for semi-arid southern Africa do not involve a cowpea technology; rather, they are all related to pigeon pea, a nutritious grain legume which is currently more consumed in that region compared to cowpea. One limitation of this study is that it did not consider all the roles of agricultural technologies in the drylands of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia; this should be considered in future studies involving TOPSIS or other MCDM techniques. Nevertheless, the study shows that TOPSIS can successfully be used for multi-dimensional ex-ante impact assessment of agricultural technologies, and thus can support the prioritization of investments targeting agricultural research for development.
Adaptive changes of seminal root and coleoptile length in wild barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum (C. Koch) Thell.) over a period of 23 years in Jordan
Author(s): Al-Hajaj, Nawal; Harb, Amal; Alomari, Nawar; Salah, Buthinah; Alhasanat, Israa; Jarvis, Devra; Al-Shamaa, Khaled; Ceccarelli, Salvatore; Grando, Stefania (Springer (part of Springer Nature) (Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals))
Date: 2024-10-29
Type: Journal Article
Status: Timeless limited access
In the context of climate change, drought is a critical challenge that drastically limits the growth and productivity of crops. Seminal roots and coleoptile play an important role in crop establishment and growth. This study assessed the adaptive changes at an early stage of development using a resurrection approach on 40 populations of wild barley [Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum (C. Koch)] that were collected in 1991 and recollected from the same sites in 2014. Significant genetic variability (P < 0.001) was detected for seminal shoot and root traits assessed based on collection sites and with collection-time interactions. All traits except root length showed an increase in broad-sense heritability (h2) and diversity in the population collected in 2014, with root number and first leaf length showing the highest values (68% and 57%, respectively). The two populations diverged into two distinctive structure categories: a conserved structure and an evolved structure. Moreover, the study revealed a trend in adaptative changes of the populations by grouping them according to their eco-geographical pattern, such as a better shoot and seminal roots traits expression that allows the plant to respond to increases in drought from the north to the south over time. These results provide useful information on the responses of crop wild relatives to environmental pressures and highlight the importance of in-situ conservation in the context of climate change adaptation and sustainability of crop improvement.
Commercialization of Small Ruminants in Menz and Konso Workshop and Work Progress Report
Author(s): Haile, Aynalem; Getachew, Tesfaye; Rischkowsky, Barbara (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2025-04-01)
Date: 2025-04-01
Type: Report
Status: Open access
The National Kick-off Workshop on the commercialization of small ruminants was held on April 30, 2025, at the ILRI Campus in Addis Ababa. The workshop launched the Ethiopia component of the ACIAR-supported project, which builds on Community-Based Breeding Programs (CBBPs) to link improved genetics with production, finishing, and marketing systems. The initiative aligns with Ethiopia’s 10-Year Agricultural Development Plan and the Yelemat Tirufat program, emphasizing a shift from subsistence livestock production to commercial, market-oriented systems that generate income, create jobs, and improve food security.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from government institutions, research centers, NGOs, cooperatives, the private sector, and development partners such as the World Bank. Discussions centered on commercialization pathways for Menz sheep and Konso goats, the integration of digital platforms for traceability and marketing, and the development of sustainable financing mechanisms.
Work progress in Menz demonstrated strong commercialization outcomes, with nearly 2,000 sheep sold during the 2024/25 Ethiopian festive seasons, generating over 18.9 million ETB (≈147,000 USD). However, bottlenecks in market infrastructure and animal transportation remain a major challenge, particularly during peak demand at Easter. In Konso, commercialization activities are at an early stage, with 24 farmers engaged in goat fattening, supported by training and orientation sessions.
The way forward focuses on two sustainability pillars: 1. enabling farmers to access finance and insurance by using their own breeding animals as collateral through the national identification system. 2. Addressing market infrastructure limitations by organizing youth-led enterprises in urban centers to develop structured facilities and strengthen digital marketing platforms. Together, these efforts will ensure that small ruminant commercialization is sustainable, inclusive, and scalable.
مرسوم اشتراعي رقم 124 : اجازة ابرام الاتفاق الموضوع من قبل حكومة الجمهورية اللبنانية ومركز البحوث للتنمية الدولية لإنشاء المركز الدولي للبحوث الزراعية في المناطق الجافة إيكاردا في لبنان
Date: 1980-07-07
Type: News Item/Press Item
Status: Open access
إجازة ابرام الاتفاق الموضوع من قبل حكومة الجمهورية اللبنانية ومركز البحوث للتنمية الدولية لإنشاء المركز الدولي للبحوث الزراعية في المناطق الجافة إيكاردا في لبنان