Feasibility Study for Milk Processing Unit at Household for the Agro Pastoral Communities in Jordan

Masnat El-Hiary, Boubaker Dhehibi, Raghda Dradkah, Ala'a Abdallat, Ola Ali Suleiman Al Arabiat, Omamah Taysir Taher Hadidi. (27/2/2021). Feasibility Study for Milk Processing Unit at Household for the Agro Pastoral Communities in Jordan. Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

Abstract

This study aims to develop an economic feasibility study of on-farm sheep and goat milk processing, packaging, and marketing through an inclusive business model and modalities plan to encourage these householders to contribute and benefit from the dairy sector value chain, and to help formulate government policy recommendations for improving dairy production in the dry land communities in Jordanian Badia. We are mainly providing an economic and financial analysis for dairy processing business model as a response to food and nutrition insecurity for agropastoral communities. It emphasizes the role of small business projects (i.e., women) at household level, non-donor dependent tool for improving the health, food and nutrition security, and livelihoods of agropastoral communities and their families. Two communities have been selected to implement this study: Al Khanasri (Mafraq Governorate) and Al Majidyyah (Amman Governorate). Focus groups were carried out in each of the two communities to collect detailed information about dairy processing and marketing practices, problems, options, risks, and priorities, supply chain, and patterns of supply and demand, collect information for describing the marketing channels, for identifying the different market actors and their roles in the dairy value chain, and the volume and pattern of demand and supply for each dairy product. A socio-economic questionnaire was designed to elicit basic numerical data on animal wealth, manufacturing production dairy processing, marketing livestock products, source of fodder and animal feed. Results showed that livestock numbers are declining in Al Majidyya due to the lack of pastures, land degradation and the lack of veterinary services. It was noted during data collection and entry that the young ladies lack the interest and skills of dairy processing among young people at the household level and it declines among older women. Women contributes in all livestock activities, especially milkmaid, and in spite of her knowledge of these activities, but she is still working in traditional system and there are no skills or understanding of the importance of new technologies that are directly related to the increase of production. The study found that manual milking was the only method used to extract milk from livestock and the vast majority of milk is reserved for processing rather than consumption. Jameed, ghee, and labaneh are the main dairy products produced, and the bulk of the work is undertaken by women. The product “Jameed” is the most common product in the area, and improvement of the quality and quantity is possible.