Managing livestock in drought-prone areas of the Middle East and North Africa: Policy issues

Drought is a severe problem in the MENA region and most governments intervene to assist their farmers. Once institutionalized, drought assistance changes the way farmers manage resources, often with increased productivity and improved livelihoods. But when assistance is heavily subsidized, farmers may adopt excessively risky farming practices, with increased losses and a greater dependence on government in drought years. The feed subsidy and credit programs in the MENA region help farmers in drought years, but they have also contributed to over-grazing and crop expansion into drought-prone areas. Better alternatives could be area-based rainfall insurance and the development of drought forecasting information systems.