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Are Development Projects Pursuing Short-Term Benefits at the Expense of Sustainability?

Author

Listed:
  • Yigezu Yigezu

    (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Amman, Jordan)

  • Tamer El-Shater

    (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Amman, Jordan)

  • Aden Aw-Hassan

    (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Amman, Jordan)

Abstract

When evaluated purely on financial grounds, most developmental interventions targeting the livestock sector exhibit a positive impact. This study also provides empirical evidence that a project which provided loans to livestock producers in Syria succeeded in increasing the annual farm income and reducing the income risk. However, these annual benefits were accompanied by a reduction in technical efficiency which, unabated, may compound over the years and compromise the livestock enterprise’s sustainability. The development lesson from these findings is that misguided interventions with well-known short-term livelihoods benefits could, in the long run, hurt the very sector which they aim to support.

Suggested Citation

  • Yigezu Yigezu & Tamer El-Shater & Aden Aw-Hassan, 2017. "Are Development Projects Pursuing Short-Term Benefits at the Expense of Sustainability?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:10:p:1803-:d:114125
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    References listed on IDEAS

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