The beef value chain in Kilosa and Gairo districts: Features and weak links

A value chain analysis of beef sub-sector was carried out in Kilosa and Gairo Districts in order to address weak-links in the chain. Stakeholder  mapping and analysis, baseline data collection and stakeholders’  workshop were conducted. Results indicate that the beef value chain has various actors among them: pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, service providers, small, medium and large livestock traders and live animal  transporters. Others are market masters, slaughterhouse operators, meat transporters, meat shop operators and consumers. Mobile phone service was noted to effectively link various actors along the value chain. The producers in Kilosa and Gairo are feeding into within the district, region, Dar es Salaam; and the export market. There are relatively few female actors along the beef value chain, mostly in processing and retail offal  business, input supply and one case in Dar es Salaam where three women are operating a slaughter slab. Feeds and water availability particularly  during the dry season; and animal diseases were reported as major  production constraints impacting on quantity and quality of beef produced. Analysis of value chain governance revealed that retailing butcher shops are receiving relatively a larger share (30%) of the overall price compared to the rest of actors in the strand. Furthermore, findings show that the supply chain is characterized by low value addition among the pastoralist and high value addition among the feedlot operators and large scale  processors. Weak links that require immediate attention include: animal diseases and non-use of standard weight measures during selling of live cattle. Key words : Actors, agro pastoralist, pastoralist, producers, supply chain, traders