Livestock by-products in Somaliland bring income for vulnerable groups

Livestock and livestock product exports are the main sources of foreign currency earning in Somaliland. Adding value to the livestock products provides additional income. The paper “An assessment of the livestock by-products value chains in Somaliland: the case of bones and tallow” by Nadhem Mtimet et al (published in Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice 2018 8:22) presents the findings of a study into bone and tallow value chains in Somaliland. This showed that both value chains are short, use low-value inputs, produce relatively low-valued products and involve participants from minority groups, women and youth. They thus offer an opportunity for inclusive economic growth that encompasses vulnerable groups in the country. The final product in the tallow value chain is laundry soap, while bone trinkets are crafted from camel bones. The two value chains are complementary, as some of the fats used to make soap are obtained from bone marrow fats. Strengthening these value chains would require: i) improving the processing skills of the value-chain actors through appropriate training to allow development of better-quality products; ii) enhancing access to working and investment capital through financial institutions or donors, to allow acquisition of new equipment needed to upgrade the quality and quantity of the products; and iii) developing new business plans for the existing businesses to include a clear sustainable growth strategy and vision.

Posted on 30 September 2018 in Pastoralism & Marketing, Pastoralism, Gender & Youth