March 10, 2014

 

European bank to support Jordan's poultry industry

 

 

In an aim to boost the country's economy, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is to support the Jordanian poultry industry by providing expertise to the country's agribusiness companies.

 

EBRD and its donors are funding expert help for promising agribusiness companies in Jordan and one market leader in the poultry sector in particular.

 

In the southern and eastern Mediterranean region, where chicken is not only the main ingredient of many traditional dishes but its meat and eggs are also the most important source of protein for millions, helping the poultry industry can boost a whole country's economy.

 

Poultry is one of the most successful areas of industrial meat production in the region and one of the fastest growing parts of the sector in Jordan, according to the agricultural information platform, MedAgri.

 

The country's local industries, and in particular agribusiness, face the challenge of extreme water scarcity, with Jordan being one of the five driest countries in the world.

 

The other great obstacle to growth is the energy supply, given the country's almost complete dependency on costly energy imports.

 

Since Jordan became a member of the EBRD two years ago, the Bank has been looking into ways to support its strategy for economic growth, which includes energy and water efficiency as well as a focus on developing the private sector and quality job creation.

 

One of the ways in which the Bank is engaging in the country is through a special programme, funded by the donors of the SEMED Multi Donor Account that provides international expertise to support promising agribusiness companies.

 

One such company is Jordan Poultry Processing and Marketing Co, part of the Hammoudeh Group. Founded in the early sixties by Abdul-Hadi Hammoudeh, today the Group is one of the market leaders in the country, and managed by the founder's grandson and namesake Abdul-Hadi.

 

Hanif Nazir of Global Poultry Consultancy has proposed practical steps for the company and is working closely with Hammoudeh's team of vets.

 

"We focussed on developing skills for prevention, for example of the contagious Newcastle disease, by designing a very good vaccination programme," remarked Nazir during one of his regular visits from Pakistan to the Jordan Poultry broiler farms.

 

This cooperation, which focuses on all the various aspects of farming and processing, has already produced noticeable results.

 

"This is only one of many advisory projects that the EBRD is carrying out with selected agribusinesses across the SEMED region." said Sarra Talib, EBRD coordinator of the programme.

 

Talib said EBRD works with businesses all along the food value chain – from agricultural and livestock production to modern retailing – helping them to develop international best practice in areas such as production efficiency, health and safety, marketing and branding, and corporate governance. The ultimate goal is for the companies they work with to be able to use the know-how they gain through the project to attract investment and sustain their growth.