Ensuring well organized marketing system and establishing proper network among stakeholders in hides and skins value chain are instrumental in enhancing contribution to the country’s economy, according to a senior researcher at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR).
Presenting a paper titled Hides and Skins (HSs) Production and Market: Status, Challenges and Prospects in Ethiopia at a workshop organized by the agricultural research institute today, EIAR Senior Researcher Rehima Musema said Ethiopia has abundant livestock resources and unique features of hides and skins.
However, there are outstanding challenges that need to be solved urgently.
Pre-slaughter and peri-slaughter defects, post-slaughter flaws, shortage of chemical, limited support for the sector, inadequate network of stakeholders in hides and skins value chain, among others, were raised as challenges to the sector.
Also, lack of proper platform to integrate all pertinent stakeholders in hides and skins value chain starti
ng from farmers and pastoralists to the market system has been a critical challenge in the sector.
The senior researcher further noted that solving quality problems, ensuring well organized marketing system and institutional support are very important to enhance the inclusive contribution of hides and skins to the country’s economy.
Moreover, Rehima stressed the need for revising the hides and skins and leather and leather products policies.
The senior researcher finally urged all stakeholders to contribute their respective responsibility to properly exploit the country’s abundant resources in the sector and increase its share in the economy.
Ethiopia has abundant livestock resources and is ranked first in Africa and fifth globally in terms of livestock population.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
A farmers’ Savings and Credit Cooperative organization in Kisii County has recorded growth in its core capital from Sh600 million 12 years ago to Sh1.7 billion currently.
Wakenya Pamoja Sacco Society Limited, which boasts of a membership of over 130,000, comprises mainly Coffee and Tea farmers in the Gusii (Kisii and Nyamira) region, although it has a few businessmen and pensioners.
Speaking during a delegates’ annual general meeting held at Kisii National Polytechnic on the outskirts of Kisii town, the organisation’s CEO, Isaac Omwenga, noted that WPS was on the right trajectory and would soon expand to other regions.
Omwenga explained that WPS had accommodated all levels of farmers, including the small holders, to enable them to grow their income and opened doors for owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises who could also access credit.
To enable the Sacco to grow further, Omwenga said they were encouraging members to increase their savings to act as security when they need credit instead of rely
ing on guarantors.
This, he said, will increase borrowing power and raise the core capital.
However, Omwenga decried increasing levels of default, especially during the current harsh economic times, but attributed it to the high cost of living and low rates from cash crop proceeds.
Wakenya Pamoja Chairman Francis Ayieko applauded the members for embracing mobile banking, saying it had increased the rate of cash transactions because it was easy for many members, especially the elderly ones.
He also cited competition from other Saccos as a setback, saying they were poaching many of their clients in the region.
Wakenya Pamoja Sacco Society Limited was started in 1976 as a Union Banking Section of Kisii Farmers’ Co-operative Union (KFCU). It became autonomous in 1992 under the name Gusii Farmers Rural Sacco Society Limited (GRFS).
WPS was licensed to conduct deposit-taking Sacco business on May 20, 2011, subject to the provisions of the Sacco Societies Act No. 14 of 2008.
The society is managed by a board
of directors structured into various committees.
Source: Kenya News Agency