Assessment on Challenges of Hide and Skin Production and Marketing in North Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was employed to assess challenges of hide and skin production and marketing in North Shewa Zone. Three districts (Girar Jarso, Jida and Hidabu Abote) were purposively selected based on livestock population and accessibility to transportation. From each district, three representative kebeles were selected randomly. Four hundred households were interviewed to assess challenges on production and marketing of hide and skin in the study areas. The primary data were collected from producers, traders, key informants through interview, field observation and focus group discussion. The result of this study revealed that the mean slaughtered animals per household were 2.67, 0.78 and 0.76 for sheep, cattle and goat, respectively. Majority of live animals hide and skin have a poor quality (damage), from those damages; losses of hair, whip Lash and yoke mark were 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd ranked respectively which is cause due to improper managements. While defects caused during slaughtering mentioned were flay-cut/hole (66.57%) and dirt (manure and blood) (17.10%). This damage was caused by careless/lack of awareness and use of improper knife for ripping and flaying. Majority (87.32%) of respondents are sold the fresh hide and skins were the others are sold sun dried (9.01%) and salted (3.66%) hide and skin to the market due to low demands of preserved hide and skin in market. The constraints of hides and skins production was ranked, lack of improper use of preservation was the first rank, lack of awareness was the second rank and livestock disease and parasite  was the third ranks of constrains in the North Shewa zone. The constraints of hides and skins marketing was ranked, low price offer was the first rank, lack of competitive market was the second rank and fluctuating price was the third ranks of constrains in the North Shewa zone. Based on this result it could be recommended that extensive training and extension service should be given on live animal management, such as feeding and housing to avoid pre slaughtering defects. Awareness creation programs on peri and post slaughtering defects through extension service is very crucial to improve the quality of hide and skin for maximizing income.

Keywords:challenge, hide and skin, marketing, opportunity, production

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-20-02

Publication date:October 31^st 2022