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International Journal Of Horticulture, Agriculture And Food Science(IJHAF)

Sheep market channels and households market participation in Borana pastoral area, Southern Ethiopia

Belay Biru Gabisa , Seada Betru


International Journal of Horticulture, Agriculture and Food science(IJHAF), Vol-10,Issue-2, April - June 2026, Pages 1-12, 10.22161/ijhaf.10.2.1

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Article Info: Received: 27 Feb 2026; Received in revised form: 01 Apr 2026; Accepted: 07 Apr 2026; Available online: 15 Apr 2026

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The study was conducted to analyze sheep value chain in Borana zone based on the suvey data from 172 randomly selected households, 3 export abattoirs, 14 different live sheep level traders, 3 market regulators, revenues and costum office at adama and informant interviews. The result showed that there was four sheep market channel with no significant purchase price difference and non competition among the channels at the point of purchase. The core value chain actors include producers, collectors, brokers, small traders, big traders, export abattoirs, and live sheep exporters. There is no sheep value addition practice at production area. The main traders marketing function is to create place utility and export abattoirs exports mainly chilled sheep meat. The Tobit model used showed that female households, family size, sheep size, market information, use of veterinary services, and unit price of sheep positevly and significantly affect sheep supply. Distace of household from market centre, and other livestock holding negatively and significantly affected households sheep market supply. The main sheep production problems identified include disease, feed and water shortage, limited inputs of production and lack of improved sheep breed at producers level. Market information and lack of purchase standard along value chain, lack of market regulation, and high market tax reported to be the main sheep market problems. The sheep market is characterized by many sellers and a small number of buyers, with no price competition. There is a little information about sheep price at export abattoirs due to different purchasing mode and traders at the area set minimum price to insure thier profit. High operational cost, marketing skill and previous market linkage are the most hindering barriers in sheep trade at higher stage of sheep value chain. The main live and sheep meat export reported was lack of consistent abroad demand/order and lack of sheep quality and quantity during their peak seasonal operation. Adjestiment of policy variables linked to sheep supply at household level, health related training,breed improvement, and market linkake improvement are recommended to improve sheep value chain.

Borana Zone, Sheep market, Tobit model,

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