| dc.description.abstract | Eighty percent of Kenya’s land is arid and semi arid (ASAL). The ASALs are best suited for
indigenous livestock production, particularly small ruminants. They offer employment to a
majority of people in the areas, and thus contribute to general livelihoods. The “livestock
revolution” is projected to double meat consumptions in the developing countries, by the year
2020 compared to 1993. The rural poor are expected to benefit from this growing market, yet
pastoral population in arid districts of Kenya lack reliable marketing outlet which would provide
increased benefits from indigenous small ruminant resource to both pastoralists and consumers
in the ASAL region and beyond. One contributing limitation is lack of data and information on
the marketing of indigenous small ruminants, subsequently leading to gaps in the existing
knowledge; and a failure to appreciate the importance of indigenous animals. The need for data
and information on marketing associated with the development of small ruminant’s resources
creates a demand for research to provide such information. This paper aims at contributing to
filling this information gap by collecting and analyzing data on the marketing of indigenous
small ruminants. The paper in particular examines the existing market channels, quantifies
market costs and margins, and assesses opportunities for producers to access markets. A crosssectional survey of 148 traders involved in the selling and/or buying of indigenous small
ruminants was conducted in Marsabit district and the city of Nairobi. In Marsabit the survey was
carried out in local markets which act as collection points close to the producer, while Nairobi
serves as the terminal market and the last collection point. A simple random selection was done
in the markets to select traders. The structure, conduct and performance approach was used in
analyse of market channels. Results reveal two market channels through which indigenous small
ruminants flow from the producer to the terminal market. A Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient
(G) results of both primary traders and secondary traders showed highly concentrated markets | en_US |
