Cattle and Camel Milk Production and Marketing: The Case Study in Aysaita Woreda, Awsi Rasu of Afar Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

A study on cattle and camel milk production and marketing system was conducted in agro-pastoral areas of Aysaita woreda based on data collected between September and December, 2011. Purposive sampling was used based accessibility to market and potentiality to cattle and camel milk production. Thus Galifage and Rumayto PAs were selected out of 11PAs. To capture gender effects in the production system, the sample household on each rural kebele was stratified into female- and male-headed households. Questionnaire based formal survey as well as PRA techniques were employed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data on cattle and camel milk production and marketing system in agro-pastoral areas of Aysaita woreda. Quantitative data were generated through interview schedule (structured, closed & open ended) and Qualitative data were derived from in depth interview, FGD, personal observation and transect walk. Most of the data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPPS) software VERSION 20. Simple descriptive statistics such as mean, range and percentile, ANOVA (Analysis of variance): was used to test the variability of different variables among rural kebeles and household heads and Chi-square test was used to examine difference between different variables among rural kebeles or between household heads. The traditional livestock production system practiced. The main functions of livestock rearing in Aysaita woreda were as a source of milk and milk products (76%), income (21%) and draft power (3%).The distribution of livestock species owned by respondent households consists of large number 52.6 % of goats, 28 % of cattle and19.4 % of camels. The female to male ratio of the cattle and camels population was 85:15 and 87:13, respectively. The feed resources used for livestock in Aysaita woreda were fed principally on natural grazing, river side grazing, Swampy grazing, Aftermath grazing and Crop residues. Cow and camel milk supply to the market decreased by 48.4 % and 29.6 %, respectively during the dry season. Sale of camel milk decreases at a relatively lower rate than cow milk sale during the dry season. Households in Galifage kebele was not marketed cow’s milk due to long distance of woreda town. Women often manage sheep and goats as they tend to be kept closer to the homestead. Live cattle and camels marketing is the responsibility of adult men and young boys while women and young girls are participating on small ruminants marketing. Livestock milk production and marketing, is constrained by lack of continuous supply of animal feeds, inadequate provision of veterinary services, poor infrastructure network, disease and lack of milk packaging materials.

Keywords: Dairy, production system, processing, utilization, marketing.