ASSESSMENT ON THE CHALLENGES OF MEAT EXPORT IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess and identify the factors that hinder the development of the meat export industry and come up with plausible interventions that could help to improve the system. The study had three objectives 1. Examining the value chain of the meat market in Amhara, Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities, People’s Region (SNNPR), Tigray and Addis Ababa regions of Ethiopia 2. Examining the challenges of the meat export industry from the inputs, process and end market 3. Identifying the possible interventions that could help actors in the meat values chain improve the system and enhance the return from the business. Descriptive type of study that involved both quantitative and qualitative methods was applied to meet the objectives of the study. Semi structured questionnaire and interview was administered to get the views and perspectives of traders, staffs of abattoirs and experts in the government structure and NGOs. In connection to this, one to three suppliers per abattoirs/slaughter house-traders and staffs of abattoirs were selected purposively. In addition 11 government and NGOs staffs were involved. The findings of the study revealed that the major constrains of the meat export industry are the booming formal and (particularly) informal trade of live animals, low value and quality of meat, presence of many unlicensed middlemen and traders within the value chain, absence of market oriented animal husbandry, insufficient vet service, feed problem, limited end market, illegal trade, insufficient government support, competition for domestic consumption and poor infrastructure including cargo service. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations are given to improve the performance of the sector. These are promoting market oriented commercial animal raising, developing the feedlot sector to stimulate commercialization of live animal raising, improving the quality standard of packers, labeling and branding, standardization of quality of meat, expanding the end market, improving the livestock supply, improving the veterinary service, improving the airport cargo administration, and animal traceability. Besides the need to take aggressive steps to decrease the formal and informal export of live animals and strengthening back ward linkages within the value chain are recommended.