Theme 6-2: Pastoralism, Social, Gender and Policy Issues--Poster Sessions
Description
In pastoral systems of Kenya, sale of small ruminants is the main regular income source for most households. Although the meat of small ruminants produced in Marsabit county is preferred in the domestic market, no mechanisms are in place that allow for a respective price differentiation. Establishing value chains for labelled sheep and goat meat would be an option to allow pastoralists to profit from their high process and product quality. The aim of the current study is to assess the requirements and feasibility to establish a value chain for labelled products (e.g. origin labelled, organic certified) together with the primary and secondary actors in small ruminant supply chain among the Rendille pastoralists in Marsabit county. Overall, 28 group discussions with four Rendille women income-generating community groups and 21 interviews with other relevant stakeholders were conducted. The results show that pastoralists’ production is largely compatible with organic standards as livestock is fed on naturally growing fodder with no chemicals applied, and herding allows for animals’ natural behaviour. However, a number of challenges hamper organic certification. These include practice of ear notching and castrations without anaesthesia and/or analgesia, supplementary feeding of home-based animals with non-organic feeds during drought, ad-hoc application of veterinary drugs, challenges in record keeping and traceability systems and financial difficulties to undertake internal control and monitoring due to the extensive nature of the production area. Improvement of veterinary infrastructure, innovative record keeping systems for illiterate producers, and further market studies to ascertain demand are recommended. While organic certification is desirable, geographical indication labeling is a feasible starting point that would allow entry into higher priced markets as hurdles to organic certification are addressed.
Citation
von Steimker, F.; Wario, H. T.; and Kaufmann, B., "Feasibility of Organic Certification of Sheep and Goats Produced in Pastoral Systems in Northern Kenya" (2022). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 16.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/24/6-2/16
Included in
Feasibility of Organic Certification of Sheep and Goats Produced in Pastoral Systems in Northern Kenya
In pastoral systems of Kenya, sale of small ruminants is the main regular income source for most households. Although the meat of small ruminants produced in Marsabit county is preferred in the domestic market, no mechanisms are in place that allow for a respective price differentiation. Establishing value chains for labelled sheep and goat meat would be an option to allow pastoralists to profit from their high process and product quality. The aim of the current study is to assess the requirements and feasibility to establish a value chain for labelled products (e.g. origin labelled, organic certified) together with the primary and secondary actors in small ruminant supply chain among the Rendille pastoralists in Marsabit county. Overall, 28 group discussions with four Rendille women income-generating community groups and 21 interviews with other relevant stakeholders were conducted. The results show that pastoralists’ production is largely compatible with organic standards as livestock is fed on naturally growing fodder with no chemicals applied, and herding allows for animals’ natural behaviour. However, a number of challenges hamper organic certification. These include practice of ear notching and castrations without anaesthesia and/or analgesia, supplementary feeding of home-based animals with non-organic feeds during drought, ad-hoc application of veterinary drugs, challenges in record keeping and traceability systems and financial difficulties to undertake internal control and monitoring due to the extensive nature of the production area. Improvement of veterinary infrastructure, innovative record keeping systems for illiterate producers, and further market studies to ascertain demand are recommended. While organic certification is desirable, geographical indication labeling is a feasible starting point that would allow entry into higher priced markets as hurdles to organic certification are addressed.
