The study was conducted during 2012-2013 to determine the impact of the
microfinance program of the Rural Community Development Project in
improving the performance of Awassi sheep of smallholders and their income
in the region of Jabal al-Hoss –
Aleppo. 215 of Awassi sheep breeders who had
benefited from the microfinance Sanduqe at least twice during 2007 - 2010 and
56 of non beneficiary - breeders (control sample) were selected randomly
basing on database available in the project. Information regarding social،
educational and animal production descriptive status was collected on the
ground (personal interview) by a questionnaire prepared for this purpose and
on the desktop official institutions. Descriptive and quantitative obtained data
were determined using SPSS Ver.18. Statistical analysis indicated that the
benefit from the loans helped significantly (P<0.05) to increase the twining rate
and reduce mortality rate and incidence of abortion in flocks of beneficiaries,
but did not significantly affect the length of suckling period and the weight of
lambs at birth and during the subsequent stages of growth. The finance had
also contributed significantly in reducing the average total cost of the disease in
flocks of beneficiaries, contributed to increase the herd size by about 36.8, in
the level of access to veterinary services by about 21%, in coverage the daily
consumption by12.6% and an increase in labor running at about 4.5%.
Financial and non-financial services helped to improve the average milk
productivity of beneficial flocks by about 20.5 kg/ season / head which reflected
positively to increase the annual income of beneficiaries by 8000 Syrian Pounds.
