Wanyoike F., N. Mtimet, N. Ndiwa, L. Godiah, A. Warsame and Karen Marshall

6th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture

Nairobi, Kenya, 27–30 October 2014

Knowledge of livestock grading and market participation among small ruminant producers in

northern Somalia

Introduction

Livestock is the leading economic sector in Somaliland

Employs around 65% of the population

Contributes to approximately 40% of GDP

Contributes to 80% of foreign export earnings

Sheep and goats (shoats) are among the most important livestock reared and exported in Somaliland

In 2012 >3m small ruminants worth >200m USD were exported at the port of Barbera

A significant number of small ruminants are also marketed domestically generating employment to the local population especially women

Introduction

ILRI and Terra Nuova have been engaged in efforts to enhance livestock production and marketing in Somalia

Value chain studies by the two partners (2008 – 2012) documented usage of an indigenous animal grading system in livestock marketing

At t r ibutes and their l evel s Gr ades

Gr ade 1 Gr ade 2 Gr ade3 Local qual it y

age

Adul t s

young

Conformation

excel l ent

good

f air

body condition

f at

nor mal

t hin

Sex

mal e

f emal e

Decreasing Qual ity

Decreasing Pr ice

The grading system

Introduction

While the grading system presents an opportunity for animal producers to make higher profits not much is known about their knowledge and utilisation of the system as they were not included in these studies.

This study sought to fill this dearth of information by focusing on market participation and awareness about the grading & pricing system among the sheep and goats producers

The study was motivated by the realization that producers cannot make deliberate efforts to exploit the grading system to realize higher incomes if they are not aware about it.

Methodology

Data for this study was collected from a random sample of 144 pastoral and agro-pastoral households who rear sheep and goats in Somaliland.

The study area covered 3 Livelihood zones: Togdheer (agropastoral): vegetables; sheep and goats West Golis (pastoral): sheep, goats & camels Hawd (pastoral): sheep, goats & camels

Settlements in each zone were grouped into those located close to the market (within 20km radius) and those located far from the market

From each settlement category, 2 settlements were randomly picked.

Methodology (Cont’d)

Lists of households that kept sheep and goats in each selected settlement were prepared with the help of local leaders.

12 households were randomly selected and a semi structured questionnaire administered on the most senior male and/or female in the sample households.

Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate awareness about the grading system and also to investigate whether the producers made any deliberate efforts to exploit the grading system for higher returns

A Heckman two stage selection model was used to evaluate the effect of knowledge about the grading system and also other factors on market participation.

Methodology: Study area

Figure 1. Livelihood Zones, FSNAU (Data source: FSAU, 2009)

West Golis Pastoral: Goats, camel, sheep [light blue]

Hawd pastoral: camel, shoats [yellow tan]

Togdheer Agro-Pastoral: Sheep, goats & vegetables [light purple]

Study areaF

igu

re 2

. Se

ttle

me

nts’

loca

lisa

tion

Results

Variable Level Number (%)

Gender of respondents Male 44%

Female 56%

Gender of HH head Male 85%

Female 15%

Level of education of HH head None 77%

Elementary 12%

Intermediate 8%

Sec. Graduate 3%

Age of HH head Mean 45.5

Std. Dev. 12.5

Number of shoats kept Mean 53.1

Owners of shoats in HH Male HH head only 48%

Male HH head & wife/wives 48%

others 4%

Descriptive statistics for the surveyed households

Contribution by Household members in shoats activities

Results (Cont’d)

Labour Decision on sales & purchases

0

10

20

30

40

50

6053

45

1210

13

39

23

9

Both spouces

A woman in the HH

Man in the HH

Others

Awareness about the grading system

Results (Cont’d)

Knowledge of the grading system by farmers

Results (Cont’d)

Percentage of men and women producers citing attributes considered during grading

Results (Cont’d)

Age

Sex

Conformation

Nutritional stratus

Breed

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90100

99

92

99

100

8

96

94

94

96

5

womenmen

% of respondents

Atr

ibu

te

Number of sheep and goats sold

All HH Sales dec. made Jointly

Sales dec. made female spouce

Sales dec. made by male HHH

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

98.2

4.4

14.2

Results (Cont’d)

>80% of households had sold some sheep and/or goats during the previous 12 months.

Variables Intensity of participation

Probability of participation

Coef. Std. err Coef. Std. err

Constant 1.15*** 0.38 0.87 1.18

Gender of HH head (1=man; 0=woman) -0.33 0.22 0.15 0.84

Knowledge of the grading system 0.06 0.10 0.14 0.30

Age of HH head 0.00 0.01 -0.04** 0.02

Level of education of household head -0.04 0.08 0.42 0.48

Sales decision maker (control=Female)

Male HH head 0.73*** 0.21 0.04 0.69

Jointly by spouses 0.37* 0.20 0.15 0.65

Study site (control=Togdheer ag. pastoral)

Hawd Pastoral 0.35** 0.18 0.42 0.67

West Golis pastoral 0.54*** 0.19 0.24 0.63

Number of sheep and goats Kept 0.04** 0.02

Determinants of market participation

Results

Conclusions

Somali producers are well versed with the livestock grading system safe for minute details but this has no significant effect on market participation and participation intensity.

Results confirm the importance of these animals as a source of income to producer households.

Participation by women in rearing of small ruminants was found to be strong and thus these activities provide a good entry point in promoting gender parity in economic welfare in the study area

Number of animals kept significantly influenced market participation justifying interventions designed to safeguard stocks of small ruminants held by producers. .