Syrian Arab RepublicMinistry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform

Directorate of Animal Health – Directorate Of Extension

Veterinary Extension in SyriaOman 20 – 21 April 2010

By:Dr. Ziad Namour - Dr. Mohammad Abdullah

Background Information: At the administrative level, Syria is divided into 14 provinces.

In each province, there is a department for animal health services and Department of Extension.

The contribution of livestock production in the total agriculture production value is more than 28% .

The animal wealth population according to the latest statistics is as follows:

UnitTotal No.SpeciesNo.Head1.1 millionCattle1

Head18 millionSheep2

Head1.5 millionGoat3

Head6 thousandBuffaloes4

Head27 thousandCamel5

Milk production is about 1.9 million tons, and about 35% of it is freshly consumed, while the red meat production is about 280 thousand tons yearly. Animal production in Syria covers 80% of the need of meat, and 85% of milk . The average number of exported sheep is about 1- 1.5 million heads annually.

The production of poultry sector has developed . produces about 175 thousand tons of chicken and broiler meat, while the

eggs production is about 4 billions.

Structure of Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform

Ministry of Agricultureand Agrarian Reform

Directorate of AgricultureIn provinces

Central Directorates . . . . .

Directorate ofAgriculture Extension

Directorate ofAnimal Health

Departments of AgricultureIn Districts

Extension Uniteat villages

FarmersFarmers ..

The main departments of the Directorate of Animal Healthare:

. Contagious Diseases and Epidemic Studies Department

. Veterinary Quarantine Department

. Zoonosis diseases Department

. Veterinary Clinics Department

. Veterinary labs Department

. Poultry Diseases Department

. Vaccines Production Department

No Communication and Extension Department. ! …

Communication and reporting system

According to the national legislations, veterinarians (private and public sector)must notify to the veterinary services authority regarding the animal disease outbreaks.

There is monthly report system adopted by veterinary services.it includes the animal health situation and activities from village level up to central directorate in ministry of agriculture.

14 monthly reports are received from the provinces, and these monthly reports include:

- Veterinary Quarantine Report that includes type and number of imported, exported and transit live animals and animal products.- Animal diseases outbreaks... - Slaughterhouses report.

- Governmental and private veterinary clinics report.- Prophylactic vaccines report.- Poultry situation report.

The contingency plans for main diseases such as:Avian Influenza, FMD, Brucellosis , etc… are usually communicated to the relevant partners (private and public ) at national level.

Veterinary ExtensionExtension services has been provided at the farmers level through : more than 11000 Extension personnel (Vet.& Agro.)

working in: 111 Supporting Extension Units

1075 Extension Units at Village levels.

Qualifying the Extension Workers There is annual plan including several

T. C as follows:

Training of trainers on extension contents ( the contents of extension messages )

Training of trainers on extension methodology.

Training of extension workers (Vet. & Eng.) on contents and methodology.

Distribution of Exten. Units in Syria

4843

611

2130

1385

2192

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

AgronomistWomenAgronomist

Aril.Diploma

VetrnarianCoVeternarian

Extension Staff

القطر

Extension methodology

1- Participatory Approach : Through/ 3/ Extension Programs

(livestock , sheep and bees) planned and implemented at Village level by Village Extension officers in participatory approach with representatives of farmers and other stakeholders.

With financial support from the Minstry and technical support from SMS (subject matter specialists).

veterinary extension works with tow principles :

Extension Directorate

Extension Department

Extension Division

Extension UnitFarmers Group

SMS

SMSFarmers repres

Researchers

Farmers repres SMSResearchers

Univs. Agril. Chamber

Relevant partners (Farmers Union, SMSResearchers,

Univs. Agril. Chamber

planningSupport

Exten. UnitSMS

Supp

ort

Planning of Extension Programs

2- SPECIALISED Extensionthrough 111 Support Extension Units with SMS in different specializations provided by all extension materials and instruments to provide technical and logistic support to the extension units to implement their plans.

These Support units work with Full linkages with RESARCH stations

Methods of communication:Direct communication. Like field visit

Home Visits

Field days and symposiums

Indirect Communication

- Weekly TV Extension programme Using different types of mass media- Daily Radio programs- Daily official newspapers- TV strip in Emergency cases

Extension publicationsFolders, Pesters, Letters, leaflets….

Publishing of Agriculture Magazine

Mobil theater

field farmers school (FFS) and farmers compotation

Thank you …