LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT, A PILLAR FOR IMPROVING LIVELIHOOD OF BEDOUIN COMMUNITIES IN THE HOT DRY AREA OF NORTH-WESTERN COASTAL ZONE, EGYPT

Aboulnaga, Adel; Siddik, Ibraheem; Mogahed, Waheed; Fahmy, Faten; Shafie, Mohmed; Elwakeel, ELsaeed; Abdel Aal, Ehab; Abdelkhalek, Tarek

doi:10.21608/ejap.2022.143415.1041

LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT, A PILLAR FOR IMPROVING LIVELIHOOD OF BEDOUIN COMMUNITIES IN THE HOT DRY AREA OF NORTH-WESTERN COASTAL ZONE, EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Animal Production Research Institute, ARC, Cairo, Egypt

² El-Menoufia University, Faculty of agriculture, Shebin Elkoom

³ Ain Shams University, Faculty of Agriculture, Shobra Khima

10.21608/ejap.2022.143415.1041

Abstract

The target populations of the study were Bedouin communities in the hot dry area of North-western Coastal Zone (NWCZ), Egypt. Baseline survey was carried out on 200 householders from four locations, special questionnaire was also used over 70 women. Six livestock interventions were implemented on 339 householders and144 women for three years, each beneficiary participated on average in 3.2 interventions.
Selection of well-performed adapted local Barki sheep were implemented through ram competitions (100 rams annually). Rams were tested for their production performance (over 100 days), and tolerance to heat stress. Top rams got 50-80% higher price, and value of the flocks rises by 25%. Productivity of Barki local goats were rises by crossing with Damascus bucks (101 bucks); crossbreds were 50% heavier, and of double milk production. Householders used barley hygrograss in the summer, while women used it all the year around. Early fattened lambs were10 kg heavier and marketed two weeks earlier.
Modern dairy processing implemented successfully with 15 women groups (144 ladies), and their products were explored at different events. Vaccination against infectious diseases and treatment of internal and external parasites, reduced lambs and kids' losses by 10-20%. A breeder's association for Development Barki Sheep in Matrouh were established and operated as breeders’ network.
The overall socioeconomic assessment indicated that livestock development interventions increased income of the household by 20% and improve value of their flocks by nearly 25%. The beneficiaries' skills and knowledge had improved in the areas of the interventions.

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