Constraints and opportunities in the hides and skins value chain in pastoral areas of northern Kenya

摘要

Pastoralincomediversificationcandependonincreasingmarketinvolvements.Oneoptionisforpastoraliststomakeuseofhidesandskinsreadilyavailableintheirareas,butwhosepotentialremainslargelyun-tapped.ThispaperexaminesthechallengesandopportunitiesinthehidesandskinsvaluechaininpastoralareasofnorthernKenyaandprovidesrecommendationsforthesectortocontributetowardsincreasedincomes,employmentcreationandreducedfoodinsecurityintheseareas.nbsp;nbsp;Resultsshowthatruralslaughterslabsandhomesteadslaughterarethemainsourcesofhidesandskins,whichareutilisedintanneriesinmajortownsofthecountry.However,valueadditionalongthechainisrelativelyun-developed.Themainconstraintsincludenon-recovery,lowsupply,poorquality,hotclimateleadingtofasterspoilage,hightransactionleviesandlackofmarkets.Poorqualityiscausedbyparasitesanddiseases,thesmallsizeofhidesfrompastorallivestock,inappropriatelyplacedbrandmarks,damageofhidesfromthornygrasslands,flaycutsandinappropriatecuringtechniques.Opportunitiesareprovidedbysimplepreservationusingwetsaltingtechnology,localprocessingandvalueadditionincommunity-basedtanneries,readymarketforhidesandskinsinthetanningindustry,andgoodwillfromtheGovernmentandnon-governmentalorganisationsinpastorallivelihoodimprovement.Inconclusion,thereisgreatsocio-economicpotentialinthehidesandskinsvaluechainfrompastoralareasthatcouldbeexploitedbyaddressingtheidentifiedconstraintsandtakingadvantageoftheopportunities.Thiswouldassistinexpandingemploymentandincomeopportunitiesinthepastoralareascharacterisedbylimitedlivelihoodoptions.nbsp;