Analysis of cattle value chain in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the cattle value chain within Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. Major cattle value chain actors (namely fatteners, traders, retailers and processors) were selected for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 41 fatteners, 60 traders, 23 retailers while stratified random sampling was used to select 77 processors making a total of 201 respondents for the study. Primary data were obtained using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, value chain map and Marketing Efficiency Index (MEI). The study revealed that, fatteners sale their cattle to traders, butchers and consumers. The traders buy cattle from fatteners and sell to other traders, butchers and consumers. The retailers buy beef and offal in bulk from butchers and sell directly to consumers or processors in smaller quantities while the processors convert cattle products into ready- to- eat products in form of (Tsire, Kilishi and soup) and sell to consumers. Majority of the value chain actors (82.9%, 93.3%, 87.0% and 79.2% of fatteners, traders, retailers and processors, respectively) shared information on price. Fatteners, traders and processors in the proportion of 73.2%, 86.7%, and 58.4%, respectively assisted one another in supplying inputs with 56.5% of retailers assisting one another in pricing. The results further revealed that the fatteners were the only inefficient actors in the chain with an MEI of 0.8, while the traders, retailers and processors had 9.4, 3.2 and 1.8 MEI respectively. The relationship within the chain is cordial as the actors shared information and assisted one another. The results also revealed that, only fatteners operated inefficiently in the chain. It was recommended that, fatteners could increase their efficiency by increasing the number of cattle fattened via pulling their resources together so as to enjoy economies of scale. Also, the use of improved technology should be encouraged in the value chain so as to ease activities and reduce cost of production which will ultimately attract employment.