Sustainable Financing and Strategic Marketing Increase the Performance of Abattoirs in Pastoral Settings

Abstract

The economy of Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands relies primarily on livestock keeping. In Turkana, livestock farming is depended on by over 60% of the population; a source of food and nutrition, income, and capital for diversified sources of living. Abattoirs are crucial tertiary markets and units of livestock trade capable of linking livestock-producing areas and herders with potential markets. Conversely, operational challenges have grossly hindered Kenyan abattoirs’ functionality, competitiveness, and profitability. The focus of the study was the non-functionality of the Lomidat abattoir in Turkana, established in 2006 by AMREF and Terra Nuova using donor assistance but halted operations in 2013. In order to discover the reasons that contributed to the non-functionality of the Lomidat abattoir, four study objectives were formulated i.e., (i) to establish the historical context of the Lomidat abattoir during its operational period, (ii) to ascertain the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors that influenced the operations of the abattoir, (iii) to identify the potential markets for the abattoir and the viability of each, and (iv) to find out the critical focus areas for the abattoir's competitive and comparative advantages. The study uses exploratory and descriptive research designs, a mixed method study approach, and convenience and probability sampling techniques to generate a study sample of 81 out of a sampling frame of 86. The study populations were livestock traders (primary respondents) and government and civil society focal points (secondary respondents) purposively selected where a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to them. The investigation results indicate that many political, economic, social, cultural, legal, and environmental glitches severely impacted the operations of the Lomidat abattoir which include insufficient funding, rampant internal and cross-border conflicts, government legislation and policy, long distances to markets, and high transportation expenses. Strategic management and marketing, extensive market research, crafting of the appropriate business model for the abattoir, assured government and donor funding, the establishment of public-private partnerships, adoption of opportunity cost livestock-based enterprises, and empowerment of Lomidat Cooperative Society are the priority strategies for reviving the abattoir and putting it into use. The study concludes that sufficient financing and strategic marketing are critical in sustaining abattoirs’ operations in pastoral settings.