THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON CATTLE PRODUCTIVITY, MILK QUALITY AND FARMERS' REVENUE IN CERTAIN RURAL AREAS OF NORTHERN TUNISIA

摘要

A large part of cattle production in northern Tunisia is carried out in rural areas where production per cow and farmers' income remain low. As a result, the government has implemented different agricultural development projects to enhance animal production and improve farmers' livelihood in these areas by providing them with livestock services. Services consisted mainly in supporting the production of cultivated forages, enhancing farmer skills, improving feeding and reproduction management and upgrading the animals' genetic potential through artificial insemination and cross breeding programs. The objective of this paper is to evaluate, using field surveys and studies, the impact of 2 examples of development projects on animal productivity, milk quality, farmers' revenues and rural development in targeted zones. Results indicated that both projects had positive impacts on production performances and farmers' revenues and living conditions. For project 1, survey data showed a shift in the herd composition toward the introduction of more specialized exotic breeds, an increase in milk yield, calving rate and meat production. They also showed increases in the part of cultivated forages as percentage units of the total farm size. As a result the share of the agricultural income to the total revenue of households was improved. Project 2 had significant effects on milk quality, which was coupled with increased milk price and farmers' income. However, despite their positive impacts on the livelihood of farmers, these projects somewhat failed, for unknown specific reasons, to have sustainable impacts on livestock development. It is more likely that once they ended, they did not leave any type of leaderships, such as farmers' organizations or common interest groups to take over. Therefore, -livestock research programs are needed to evaluate the sustainability of such project impacts. International organizations can effectively contribute and participate in this regard.