ENHANCING THE SMALL RUMINANT VALUE CHAIN USING SWOT ANALYSIS IN MAFRAQ GOVERNORATE, JORDAN

This study aims to evaluate the small ruminant value chain and identify the key factors influencing its effectiveness and sustainability. Surveys were conducted with 156 out of 5824 farmers, and semi-structured interviews were carried out with other stakeholders in the value chain to gather qualitative data in 2021. The analysis revealed that small ruminant activities were predominantly managed by medium and small farmers, who primarily engaged in cash sales. Although 45.51% of farmers expressed interest in expanding their production systems, they faced challenges such as limited access to inputs, ineffective production management, and inadequate marketing infrastructure, all of which adversely impacted productivity and income. Additionally, environmental factors, including climate change and the Syrian refugee crisis, further strained grazing lands and increased production costs. The study highlighted that insufficient infrastructure and limited bargaining power, exacerbated by political and environmental challenges, hindered the overall performance of the value chain. Recommendations derived from SWOT analysis suggested forming cooperatives, enhancing production efficiency, and developing strategies to stabilize local and regional markets to address these issues and improve the sustainability of the value chain.