Camel production and products value chain in Karamoja Sub-region, Uganda

Abstract

Camel production in Karamoja sub-region Uganda is increasingly being adopted as one of the strategies for coping with the effects of climate variability. However, a dearth of information on camel production and products value chain in the sub-region pertains. This study; i) characterized the camel production and products value chain, ii) examined the biophysical and social-economic factors influencing camel production and iii) explored options for management of the browsing resources to enhance the camel production. Data was collected from camel herding communities of Moroto and Amudat districts as well as among the camel products consuming communities in Kisenyi, Kampala District. A multi-stage sampling approach was used to collect data from 48 camel owners using a snowball technique. Thirty (30) consumers and five key informants were purposively interviewed. Three focus group discussions were conducted with camel herding community, transporter, abattoir and butcher. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the camel production and camel products value chain and a Geographical Weighted Regression was used to determine the influence of biophysical and social- economic factors on camel production. The key value chain actors for the milk and meat identified were: camel producing households, transporters, processor (abattoirs), marketing (butcher and milk shops) and consumers. Camel production was positively influenced by distance to the desired forage site during wet season, herd size and labour; while negatively influenced by distance to the desired forage site in dry season, water availability and experience in herding. Rotational camel herding and zoning off ‘paddocking’ certain browsing sites were perceived as sustainable options for managing forging sites. Government and development partners should support the formalization of camel milk and meat value chain in Uganda through providing support services and institutional arrangements. There is need for integration of camel production into mainstream production system in Karamoja sub-region.