Prosopis juliflora products market chain analysis in Garissa and Tana River County, Kenya

Abstract

Prosopis juliflora may have been introduced into Kenya by livestock from Sudan or southern Africa or by traders from India or southern Africa. Prosopis juliflora is a multi-purpose tree that provides various benefits ranging from non-wood to wood products. It produces good quality fuel of high-quality calorific value, which burns well even when freshly cut. It provides a useful resource for poor communities because it requires low investment to develop and manage. However, in the introduced areas, the extent to which it is utilized varied widely around different areas of the world. Communities’ knowledge and perception on P. juliflora have negatively affected its management and utilization. Stakeholders participate in all stages of the market value chain that plays specific roles along the value chain. The survey was undertaken in Garissa and Tana River Counties. A total of 150 respondents were sampled and interviewed. The survey established that P. juliflora was utilized for charcoal production (42%), poles/posts (29%), bee forage (17%), and pods (12%). Trading in P. juliflora products is a major source of income amongst the community members in Garissa and Tana River Counties. Prosopis charcoal contributes a total amount of from Ksh 3 million to 16 million in Garissa County and Ksh 60 million to 200 million in Tana River County annually. The markets of P. juliflora products were characterized by local brokers who affect the prices of the products in both Counties. Prosopis juliflora products were locally in Garissa Ndogo, Livestock Market, Bulla Iftin in Garissa County, and Bura Tana, Hola, Madogo, and Jarendete in Tana River County. The challenges in marketing Prosopis juliflora products were low demand for some products such as firewood and pods, high transport costs, inadequate entrepreneurial skills, and uncoordinated stakeholders. Therefore, there needs to enhance the entrepreneurial and value-addition skills of Prosopis products producers and market dealers.