Tanqua-Abergelle Goat Value Chain
Analysis: the case of Abergelle district,
Tigray Region, Ethiopia
Daniel Desta
Multi-stakeholder Workshop for Targeting Action Research on Atsbi sheep
and Abergelle goat Value Chains in Tigray, Ethiopia
Mekelle, 19-20 March 2013

1. Background and Justification
 In Ethiopia, goat is the second most important species of
livestock with diverse breeds and ecotypes
 Small ruminant population of Ethiopia, about 66 million heads of
which about 35 million is goat (Negassa et al., 2011).
 There are a total number of 264,596 goats, 78245 sheep, 81,649
cattle, 15732 equine, 10,4496 poultry and 11,220 honey bees
(WTAoOARD, 2011).
 Though the above are there, the sectors share to the GDP is
minimal as compared with other sectors
 This is mainly due to market oriented production and weak
horizontal and vertical linkage between and among the actors of
the value chain
 Cost-effective marketing channels and coordinated supply
chains that reduce the transaction costs among different actors
along the supply chain are needed.
 It is, therefore, found promising that investigating the goat value
chain, as one integral part of livestock, so as to pin out the
leverage points to fine tune the chain which in turn enhance the
well functioning of the sub-sector, small ruminant production.

1.1. Objective of the Study
General Objective
Analyzing the value chain of goat in order to identify
the best bet intervention areas that can improve the
goat value chain in the study area
More specifically it sought to;
 Identify the core functions and actors and activities
performed by each and every actor along the goat
value chain
 Investigate the natural (ecological), technical, financial,
legal and institutional opportunities and challenges in
the goat value chain
 Identify the points of intervention or leverage points
cross the value chain
 Forward possible policy implications to develop goat
value chain accordingly

2. Methodology
2.1. Description of the Study Area
 The study area belongs to Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia
 Located: 120 km west of Mekelle, Capital of Tigray Region
 Latitude: 13o 14' 06" N
 Longitude: 38o 58' 50" E
 Agro-eco: SM1-4, lowland
 Animal population: it owns huge number of livestock
 Land Use: 144,564 ha (1,445.64 Skm) of which; 29,466 ha (cultivable),
15,381.7 ha (area enclosure) and the remaining 99716.3 ha (uncultivated
land /includes bare lands, marginal lands, rocky, roads and very steep and
unproductive land)(WTAOoARD, 2010 ).
20.38
%
10.64
%
68.98
%
Land Use
Cultivable Land
Area Enclosure
Uncultivable Land

 Data Collection (quantitative and qualitative)
 Primary data:
 Rapid Rural Appraisal Tools: (FGD (10), KII(30) and Observation)
 Goat Producers,F-30%,M-70%
 OoARD experts
 Export Abattoirs
 Butchers
 Hotels /Restaurants/
 Traders
 Credit providers
 Transporters
 Secondary Data
 DOoARD
 TAMPA
 Data Analysis
 Descriptive statistics ; VPF, VPS by place and type, Costs and Margins
 On spot/thematic approach/
2.2. Data Collection and Analysis

3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Core Functions and Major Actors in the Goat
Value Chain of the Study Area

3.2. Input Supply

3.3. Production of Goat
 Mixed(Crop-livestock)
 Flock size ranges: 15-300
 Breed type: solely Abergelle type (small BD size,
meat test, drought resistant)
 Purpose of goat production
 Meat and milk (for sell and home consumption )
 Manure production
 Production of goats in the study area involves
 Feeding ( locally available; green browsing spp,
grass, hay, left over,)
Copping Mechanism during dry season: let goats
stay away from home; communal land
 Housing (Traditional)
 Breeding (uncontrolled mating at any season)

3.4.Marketing of Goats
 Marketing of goats in the study area involves;
Transporting, selling and buying of goats
 Actors: Farmers, collectors, traders (Small and big), processors
(,Export abattoirs ,hotels), consumers (individual consumers)
 Farmers sell of goats by buyer type: Traders (40%),
Individual cons.(20%), Exp. Abt. (5%), Hotels/Restaurants
(15%) and others farmers (20%)
 Marketing by place of sell: yeachila-70%, 20%-Finaruwa
and 10%- at farm gate
 Price of goats observed to vary across the different market
places and by age and sex goat
 Buyer Farmers’ quality parameter; BC, color, height
 Buyers’(traders) quality parameter: origin of goats, age,
sex
 Demand and Supply of Goats
 Supply High: On September, October, December and May)
 Demand High : Public festivities ( Mewled, Easter, New year etc)

3.5.Transporting
According to FGD conducted with goat traders
 Traders do transport their animals either
 Trucking (car load)
 Trekking (Driving)
 Traders 2/3 goats traded: Trucked (car load )
1/3 goats traded: Trekked (drive on foot)
 Average load/truck: 90 goats - Intact male
70 goats - Castrated
 No goat transporters primarily engaged in providing animal
transportation services
 Isuzu owners do give transportation services in the area as a side
line (no truck mainly manufactured for animal transportation)
 Average goat loss due death: 2heads/load

3.6.Processing and Consumption
 Processing of goat involves: Slaughtering, chilling,
cooking, frying, packing..
 Actors: Abergelle export abattoir, hotels,
butcheries, restaurants, individual consumers
 Consumers: individual consumers and local
institutions as bulk consumption (Tekeze, Sur
construction..
 Farmers do slaughter goats during festivity or to
host honorable gust; meat consumed by both
female and male in a family but
 Goat milk is consumed after it is processed; whole
milk is not especially by women, for the belief that
they become mature enough quickly, don’t obey
and look after boys.
 Form of consumption: Raw meat and processed(
roasted meat, kikil, key wet, dullet…)

4.Marketing Routs of Goat

5. Map of Abergelle Goat Value Chain

6. Goat Marketing Channels
- Six market channels has been identified
 Channel 1: Goats sold directly to
individual consumers
 Chanel 2: Goats sold directly to Abergelle
export abattoir
 Chanel 3: Goats sold to
hotels/restaurants via small traders
 Chanel 4: Goats sold to
hotels/restaurants via big traders
 Channel 5: Goats sold to butcheries via
small traders
 Channel 6: Goats sold to butcheries via
big traders

7. Marketing Costs and
Margins

8. Constraints Identified In the Goat
Value Chain
1. Input supply
 lack of adequate and quality vet services (Anthrax, PPR and ovine Pastrolosis)
 Lack of transportation facilities for technicians to provide mobile health services
 lack of adequate extension services (training on husbandry practices, improved
technologies)
 Lack of adequate and inflexible credit facilities
 Lack of skill and awareness on efficient utilization of crop residues
 Lack of adequate training on improved goat husbandry
 Lack of market information
2. Production
 High incidence of disease(Anthrax, PPR, ovine pastrolosis, Rabis)
 No controlled mating; (lack of knowledge inbreeding )
 No market oriented production system
 Poor crop residue utilization
 Weak vertical and horizontal linkage with actors of the value chain
3. Marketing
 Lack of working capital
 Multiple taxation for traders (legal barrier)
 Seasonality of demand and supply
4. Transportation
 Lack of adequate transport facilities (truck primarily manufactured for animal transportation)
5. Processing
 Lack of supply of quality goat which satisfy the quality parameter of export abattoir
 Lesser dressing percentage (small body size)

9. Conclusions and
Recommendations
9.1. Conclusions
Data generated using FGD, KII and observation showed
Poor input supply (vet services , business
support and credit)
Poor production system of goat ( feeding
and breeding )
Fragmented and disorganized marketing
system
Weak vertical and horizontal linkage
between and among the vertical value
chain actors

9.2. Recommendations
 Adequate and quality vet services (Anthrax, PPR and ovine
Pastrolosis)
 Transportation facilities for technicians to provide mobile health
services (motorbike)
 Adequate extension services (training on husbandry practices,
improved technologies)
 There should be adequate and inflexible credit facilities – Credit
providers has to draw another inviting mechanism of providing
loan especially DCSI
 Training and awareness creation on efficient utilization of crop
residues
 Adequate market information ; TAMPA and OoARD
 There should be farmers cooperatives; both in production and
marketing
 Appropriate system has to be launched for traders
 Transport facilities (truck primarily manufactured for animal
transportation)
 Breed improvement (Either through selection or Cross breeding )

Thank You Very Much for
Your Patience!!!