Beef Cattle Value Chain Analysis

Introduction

The general research topic of this research project is “Beef cattle value chain analysis and producers’ linkage to market: the case of Borana pastoralists in Ethiopia.” The thesis work took three months, which includes the preparation phase of the research project proposal development, filed work for data collection, coding, data analysis using appropriate software and writing up of the thesis report. The study identified a myriad of problems in Borana beef cattle value chain market relating to market access, producers and buyers’ linkages - thus dominance of brokers – market infrastructures. The purpose of the study was to investigate market access for pastoralist beef cattle producers in the Borana Zone of Oromia Regional State,

However, during the dry season, producers were not stable to meet anyone because they run with their cattle and busy with other family matters for survival. Such a pick drought situation needs particular attention to be given to overcome the challenges. In my case, in Borana, even if the season is not the main dry season, due to the failure of the previous main rainy season, it was considered as the pick dry season. First, I made an assessment of the area about their situations, marketing day, community meeting days, cultural ceremony days. I tried to contact pastoralist association leaders and inform the purpose of my visit to their area and share the support letter to them because, during that period, Ethiopia was in a state of emergency. So, every trip needed to pass through the line of the official

 Research proposal development with the required consistency is not easy.

 Planning with good writing is not difficult but implementing the plan is.

 Pre-testing the data collection tools in the field gives more insights and an opportunity to revise and make necessary adjustments to the questions and checklists, and boosts reliability and efficient time use during the interviews.

 I learnt that day by day, interview by interview, I improved time management and interviewing techniques and style through practice.

 Time is the real valuable asset, which cannot be reversed (starting things at the right time gives room for corrections and quality output).

 Distance, harsh environmental, fluctuating electric power and poor internet connection greatly affect implementation of field activities as planned.

 Using different techniques and interviwing various relevant actors helps a lot in triangulating the information received from one source(i.e. focus group discussion, traders, abattoirs) and provides one with diverse reviews that are crucial for research project on a mutistakeholder theme such as livestock