Milk Market Performances and cofounding factors along Milk Value Chain in Pastoral Area: A Case of Borana Pastoralists, Borana Zone, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Borana zone with the objectives understanding the milk market performance and challenges along the value chain. The primary data was collected from 123 households that drawn proportionally following multistage sampling based randomly selected households. Additionally, relevant information was collected from different sectors besides relevant literatures session. Similarly, Focused Group Discussions, key informant interview and visual observations were also undertaken to collect the primary data. In the course of data collection, different set of checklists were used for different group of actors to guide survey data collection, group discussions and key informant interview. The study found that input supply, natural calamity, marketing system, declining of livestock productivity, infrastructure and hygiene are among the major challenges along the dairy value chain. Above all, the dominance of value chain actors by pastoralists coupled with fragmented milk marketing system were the critical factors that stunted the milk market system in the study area. As a result, the performance of milk value chain is fragmented and distorted. Moreover, the supply of milk to the market become meager even though the milk selling practices has been flamed. Additionally, the dilution of pure drought resistant Borana cattle called “Qorti” is at its critical level of its extinction which challenge the milk production. Thus, it is important to enhance the milk marketing, encouraging milk supply and improving milk productivity.