
The Africa Food Systems Forum 2024, held in Kigali, brought together stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to explore innovative solutions for transforming food systems in a digital and climate-sensitive era. Among the sessions was a side event hosted by Strathmore University Agri-Food Innovation Center (SAFIC), focusing on unlocking the potential of Africa’s Pastoral Markets, an essential but often overlooked component of the continent’s food systems.
Moderated by Dr. Dennis Mujibi, the session revolved around the significant impact of climate change on Africa’s rangelands, which support a substantial portion of the world’s livestock with an estimated value of $13 billion in Africa. The event emphasized the untapped potential within these pastoral markets, calling for inclusive frameworks and more resilient business models to unlock their full economic value.In his opening remarks, Professor Simon Ndiritu Wagura, Center Director of SAFIC, underscored that pastoralism is not merely a way of life but a viable business that can drive local economies if provided with the right tools and support.
He outlined the various challenges facing pastoralists, including their operation in remote, poorly connected regions, which makes accessing high-value markets difficult. This is despite the fact that 80 percent of the national herds come from pastoral regions contributing 36% of domestic meat and exports especially for small ruminants. He also noted that the sector is worth USD 1 Billion in 2019 when census was done and contributes to 13 percent to GDP despite the losses from drought.
Additionally, the fragmented livestock value chains mean that pastoralists capture only 30% of their livestock’s final value and therefore need traders to reduce the long value chain. Climate-induced losses such as the recent drought where animal prices went down from Kshs. 30,000 to Kshs. 500 which is an estimated loss of 98% of value coupled with conflicts over grazing land and underdeveloped infrastructure, compound the challenges, making it difficult for pastoralists to fully benefit from the livestock they raise.
SAFIC is working to address these barriers through innovative, data-driven solutions. In partnership with Boston Consulting Group and with the funding of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and from previous work undertaken by University of Florida, the center launched the “Pathfinder” programs, which aim to create scalable business models for pastoral markets. Pilot programs in Ethiopia and Kenya demonstrate the success of organizing meat production through off-takers, who ensure pastoralists have better access to high-quality livestock markets. These efforts help address some of the structural inefficiencies in the supply chain, where pastoralists often face barriers to entry.
Professor Ahmed Elbeltagy, representing the African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), highlighted the need for sustainable interventions to address the vulnerabilities pastoralists face due to climate change. He presented the Pastoral Market Development Platform, a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This initiative is built around three key pillars: integrating the private sector into pastoral markets, developing data ecosystems to improve animal health and market access, and creating policy environments that remove barriers related to livestock mobility and animal health. These pillars aim to equip pastoralists with the tools they need to withstand environmental and economic challenges.
A significant issue raised during the discussion was the disconnect between policy and practice in pastoral regions. Although policies exist at both national and continental levels, they often fail to be implemented effectively in the areas where pastoralists operate as mentioned by Zoe Karl Waithaka, Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group. She emphasized that data transparency and technology could help bridge this gap. Mobile applications, for example, could provide pastoralists with real-time information on livestock pricing, helping them make more informed decisions. Moreover, technology can be used to create early-warning systems for droughts, allowing pastoralists to manage their resources more efficiently.
Discussions by one of the offtakers from Kenya, Doreen Gacheri, CEO of Genco Livestock and Fresh Meat Export Ltd., shared her experience in linking pastoralists with international markets. Her company focuses on sustainable practices, such as training pastoralists on quality standards and investing in infrastructure like fodder production and boreholes to mitigate the impact of droughts. This has allowed her business to consistently meet market demand, even amid climate challenges, although they still only supply 10% of the daily demand for 14 tons of livestock exports. Gacheri’s story exemplifies the potential of pastoral markets when sustainability and long-term investment are prioritized.
However, cultural barriers also play a role in limiting the full economic potential of pastoralists. Professor Ahmed noted that many pastoralists view livestock not just as economic assets but as symbols of wealth and status, which often prevents them from selling their animals at the optimal time, particularly during droughts. This cultural attachment to livestock can lead to significant losses when pastoralists hold onto their herds despite deteriorating environmental conditions. Addressing these cultural barriers, he said, would require a shift in mindset, encouraging more consistent market engagement rather than the accumulation of livestock as a status symbol.
Throughout the session, the need for resilience in the face of climate change remained a recurring theme. Pastoralists face increasing risks from droughts, water scarcity, and feed shortages. Professor Ahmed emphasized the importance of preserving the genetic integrity of African livestock while improving their productivity. He warned against indiscriminate crossbreeding with exotic breeds, which could undermine the natural resilience of local livestock. Olga Petrinyak, Senior Director for Africa Resilience Programs from Mercy Corps echoed these concerns, highlighting the importance of partnerships between businesses and development agencies to address issues like supply chain fragmentation and time poverty.
The session concluded with a call for more investment in pastoral markets and strategic partnerships to ensure their long-term sustainability. SAFIC’s proposed “scaling hub” for pastoral markets was highlighted as a potential game-changer. This hub would bring together governments, private businesses, and financial institutions to address inefficiencies in the value chain and attract sustained private sector investment. Such a collaborative approach would help pastoralists achieve greater market stability and resilience.
Ultimately, the forum underscored the centrality of pastoralists to Africa’s food systems and the significant, yet unrealized, economic potential within pastoral markets. By integrating private sector investment, leveraging technology, addressing cultural barriers, and promoting sustainable business models, pastoral systems can be transformed. The African Union’s Pastoral Market Development Platform, along with SAFIC’s innovative strategies, provides a promising blueprint for achieving food systems transformation across the continent. As climate challenges intensify, there is an urgent need for stakeholders to innovate, accelerate, and scale solutions to ensure that pastoralists are not left behind in the global movement toward more resilient and equitable food systems.
This article first appeared on the Strathmore Business School website. https://sbs.strathmore.edu/exploring-the-transformative-potential-of-african-pastoral-market-systems/