Marketing Livestock and Meat Products from Drylands: A Case Study of Abattoirs and Meat Eateries in Turkana, Kenya

Abstract

The economy of Kenya's arid and semi-arid regions is predominantly based on livestock husbandry. In Turkana, livestock farming supports over 60% of the people, serving as a source of sustenance, income, and capital for varied livelihoods. Abattoirs and livestock markets are essential enterprises that connect livestock-producing regions, herders, and traders with prospective markets. Conversely, operational issues have significantly impeded the functionality, competitiveness, and profitability of Kenyan abattoirs and livestock markets. The study aimed to (i) evaluate the performance of abattoirs and livestock markets in Kenya's drylands and comparable areas in Eastern Africa; (ii) ascertain the importance of abattoirs and meat eateries to the economy of livestock farmers and traders in Turkana; and (iii) examine the effects of performance-limiting factors on the outputs of abattoirs, livestock markets, and meat eateries in Turkana. The study was structured using exploratory and descriptive research designs, utilising a mixed methods technique for data collecting, involving 96 study participants. The study results indicated that abattoirs, livestock markets, and meat eateries are substantially hindered by several political, economic, social, cultural, legal, technological, and environmental issues. The Pareto Chart identifies insufficient funding for marketing operations, pervasive internal and cross-border conflicts, governmental legislation and policy, and considerable distances to markets as the primary impediments contributing to numerous other challenges impacting the livestock sector's performance in Turkana. The study underscores the necessity of structuring livestock marketing operations by utilising corporate models that prioritise risk aversion, market orientation, capitalisation and rationalization of consumer bahaviour. Strategic management and marketing, comprehensive market analysis, guaranteed government and donor financing, formation of public-private partnerships, livestock business diversification, and conversion of abattoirs, livestock markets and meat eateries into cooperative societies would enhance livestock sector performance in terms of competitiveness, profitability, and sustainability.