International Research Journal of Microbiology (IRJM) (ISSN: 2141-5463) Vol. 3(3) pp. 86-93, March 2012
Available online http://www.interesjournals.org/IRJM
Copyright © 2012 International Research Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Commercialization of meat trade: the potential role of
private sector and capacity building in quality
assurance in meat export trade from regions of Somalia
Wamalwa Kinyanjui*1, Castiello Massimo1, Munyua Solomon John Muchina1,
Abdullahi Rabile Goad1, Gathuma M. Joseph2, Ombui N. Jackson2 and Mogoa M. Eddy2
1
Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, Somalia, P.O Box 30470-00100, Nairobi
University of Nairobi, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences
2
Accepted 09 March, 2012
Quality assurance practices in meat production deserve top priority at all stages since meat is a known
vehicle for transmission of several food-borne diseases. Maintaining safety and quality assurance is a
constant challenge to meat trade because it entails continuous adaptation to new scientific findings
and technologies. Study data was collected through: a comprehensive review of FAO documents;
individual interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders, in-depth interviews with
partnership organizations and government ministries, and direct observations during interventions and
data collection. For nearly 20 years without a central government, Somalia’s meat industry has
experienced great challenges in meeting the rising food safety standards of the traditional meat
importing countries in the Middle East (ME). The study established that training and supply of basic
livestock slaughter equipment enabled meat sector producers and stakeholders to comply with
international food safety standards thereby improving exports but not without force majeure
constraints. FAO Somalia and other development partners have built the capacity of public−
−private
sectors in Somalia export meat industry to respond positively to changing standards in meat sector by
promoting quality assurance activities aimed at sustaining market potential and enhancing meat
commercialization. The study concluded that given the right environment, development of skills and
knowledge of the skilled and non-skilled personnel will contribute to promotion of meat export potential
from the export slaughterhouses.
Keywords: Compliance, food safety, meat export, quality assurance, trainings.
INTRODUCTION
Foods of animal origin have been known to be significant
vehicles for the transmission of emerging and reemerging food-borne diseases (FAO/WHO 2002; 2005;
FAO/OIE 2006). There is a strong food safety element in
most of these diseases making food safety an essential
public health issue for all countries (WHO 2002; FAO/OIE
2006). Meat contaminating bacteria are the major direct
*Corresponding Author E-mail: wamalwa.kinyanjui@fao.org;
wamalwakinyanjui@yahoo.com; kwam91@gmail.com
cause of food-borne diseases and represent a potential
source for the drug resistance of human pathogenic
agents. The most commonly recognized food-borne
infections are those caused by the bacteria like
Campylobacter spp, Salmonella spp, E .coli O157:H7,
Listeria spp, streptococcus cereus and by a group of
viruses called Calicivirus, also known as the Norwalk and
Norwalk-like viruses (CDC, 2005).
It is therefore imperative that governments, the private
and public sectors, consumers and other meat sector
stakeholders work in a concerted and synergistic manner
in this shared responsibility of assuring meat safety from
farm-to-fork. Cooperation at the national, sub-regional,
Kinyanjui et al. 87
regional and international levels provides opportunities
for synergy and maximized benefits for improved human
health and economic development both at domestic and
export levels (FAO /WHO 2005).
The demand for internationally high standards of
animal health set by the World Organisation for Animal
Health (OIE) (OIE 2007), food safety standards by Codex
Alimentarius Commission (CAC) of the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and
the World Health Organization (WHO) (CAC 2005) and
the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS)
agreement by the World Trade Organization (WTO)
(Weiler, 2004; Thomson et al., 2004) that are being
adopted by the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) countries
(GCC countries include Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United
Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman) of the
Middle East (ME) which are the traditional importers of
Somali chilled carcasses, present a challenge for
Somalia meat sector, bearing in mind that the country
has been without a functional central government since
1991. In 2009, Puntland, an autonomous state of
Somalia applied for membership of Codex Alimentarius
Commission, the body that regulates food safety
standards (CAC 2010)
In addition, export trade in live livestock had
interruptions with vicious cycle of bans on perceived
outbreak of transboundary animal diseases (TADs)
leading to enormous losses in terms of revenue. The
latest of this ban was in 2000 on perceived outbreak of
Rift Valley Fever (RVF) which led to heavy economic
losses yet Somalia did not have the capacity to contest
the bans due to lack of a functional government (Holman
2002) . Data collected in 2008 from four of the five
operating export slaughterhouses showed an export
figure of 467,273 chilled small ruminant carcasses from
Mogadishu Modern, Mubarak I, Mubarak II and H-foods
export slaughterhouses (FAO Somalia, 2010; FSNAU,
2010) earning the slaughterhouses a profit of USD 2,
803, 638 according to profit margin of USD 6 per carcass
of 6-8 kg as per livestock value chain analysis report of
Muthee 2012. No data was collected from Beletweyne
export slaughterhouse.
To mitigate the high food safety standard
requirements being adopted by GCC countries and
circumvent the frequent live livestock trade bans, the
private sector in Somalia established five export
slaughterhouses that started exporting chilled carcasses
of small ruminants which do not present risks of disease
transmission to importing countries. Capacity building
and training of slaughterhouse workers and management
personnel of these slaughterhouses was viewed as an
important aspect for production of high quality meat.
According to FAO 2004, training of meat producers and
livestock traders is vital to achieving production of high
quality and safe meat with low levels of bacterial
contamination and drug residues. Furthermore, wamalwa
et al., 20011 has shown that training is an integral part of
the foundation of knowledge, skills and technology
transfer as it is crucial and a pre-requisite for
implementation of food safety and quality assurance
programmes that are designed to pragmatically mitigate
the risk of substantial levels of bacterial, chemical and
physical contamination of foods of animal origin.
Moreover, Castiello et al., 2011 highlights that
intervention through capacity building in addition to
livestock disease surveillance, vaccinations, treatments,
fodder production and establishment of water catchments
along livestock trade routes is important for livestock to
have good body conditions thereby promoting livestock
exports. A good livestock body condition contributes to
quality meat that is on demand in importing countries of
the Middle East amidst stiff competition from other
countries that export meat there.
This paper describes efforts by FAO Somalia and
other development partners to build the capacity of both
the private and public meat sector stakeholders in North
Western and North Eastern regions of Somalia to be
more responsive to the changing food safety standards
and demands for livestock and livestock products, of the
traditional markets in the ME and other emerging
markets.
Study site
The study was concentrated in the peaceful North
Western (Somaliland) and North Eastern (Puntland)
states of the expansive Somalia republic for a period of 2
years from September, 2007-September, 2009 when the
slaughterhouses were fully operational. The study sites
were H-foods (Burao district) and Mubarak II (Galkayo
district) export slaughterhouses in Somaliland and
Puntland respectively. However, some secondary data
where possible was gathered from the remaining three
export slaughterhouses (Mogadishu modern and
Mubarak I and Beletweyne) located in Central and
Southern Somalia that is embroiled in continuing civil
conflict.
DATA COLLECTION METHODOLOGY
This involved reviewing of secondary data in FAO’s and
development partners database.
Primary data was
collected through interviews with focus group discussions
(abattoir workers), key informants, and direct
observations and transect walks around the export
slaughterhouses. The main stakeholders interviewed
included export meat traders (SOMEAT) representatives,
slaughterhouse
workers,
and
Cooperazione
Internazionale (COOPI), Veterinaires sans Frontiers
Germany (VSF-G) and Ministry of Livestock staff involved
in the interventions as shown in table 1 below. The
questions were structured in a closed manner (yes/no)
88 Int. Res. J. Microbiol.
with limited options of other and explain to maintain
consistency of the outcome (Wesonga et al., 2010).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Questionnaire administration
Data on interventions by FAO and other implementing
partners was collected using a standard questionnaire.
The questionnaires were administered in two parts; to the
staff of the implementing partners and sub-contracted
parties that carried out the trainings and other activities
and to slaughterhouse managers and randomly selected
slaughterhouse workers who benefitted from the trainings
at the target slaughterhouses (Table 1).
The questionnaires were administered in English and
translated into Somali language by the local veterinarians
where respondents had limited knowledge of English.
The questions were designed to identify the type of
Kinyanjui et al. 89
Table 1. Summary of key informants and slaughterhouse workers interviewed
Implementing
organization/
slaughterhouse
FAO Somalia
COOPI
VSF-G
Export slaughterhouses
(H-foods & Mubarak II)
Position of interviewee
Kind of intervention
Regional coordinator (1) and
livestock consultant (1)
Veterinary coordinator (1)
Trainings, supply of tools/equipments,
facilitation of learning tours
Trainings
Veterinary coordinator (1)
Trainings, baseline microbiological
analysis of meat swab samples
Type of interventions received, by
what organizations and impacts on
meat quality and trade
Type of training received and
importance
Managers (1 from each)
General workers (10 from each)
interventions that had been implemented by
international organizations and evaluate any impact.
the
Export slaughterhouses
Interventions and Findings
Formation
(SOMEAT)
and
support
certificates. This promoted observance of high quality
assurance for all export carcasses.
of
meat
association
To promote production of high quality and safe meat from
slaughterhouses for export purposes from Somalia, FAO
Somalia, and development partner organizations took an
active role in building the capacity of the Somali Meat
Trader’s Organization (SOMEAT). SOMEAT was
supported by FAO and partners until it achieved the
status of official registration in 2008 in Sharjah (UAE),
one of the main importers of chilled small ruminant
carcasses. The organization comprises of all proprietors
of export slaughterhouses and major meat traders in
Dubai and regions of Somalia and has offices in Dubai
and owns the five export slaughterhouses in all regions of
Somalia.
FAO and partners supported the organization in
collaboration with the Somali Government through
trainings. In addition, selected members of each
slaughterhouse were supported financially to undertake
field study tours of the export markets in the Middle East
as well as to training centres in the region (These
included visits to Botswana Meat Commission, Kenya
Meat Commission, and University of Nairobi; Kenya) to
get practical lessons on standards of meat production.
This enabled the organization to improve their meat
production standards and hence better access to more
GCC countries. As a result, SOMEAT enlisted the
services of trained public veterinarians who provided
meat inspection services and certification at all the five
export slaughterhouses besides the normal inspection of
all livestock destined for export before issuing export
The
five
privately-owned
operating
export
slaughterhouses in Somalia primarily exported chilled
carcasses of sheep and goats to the Middle East, with
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) being the main importer.
Out of five abattoirs in the country, only three
(Mubarak II, Beletweyne and H-foods) operated for eight
to twelve months of 2009 during part of the study period.
The Beletweyne abattoir stopped operations in
September 2009 after exporting 28,020 carcasses
because of insecurity incidents. H-foods similarly stopped
operations because of limited demand for carcasses from
the ME countries with no exports recorded in the last
three months of 2009. From January 2009 to December
2009, carcass exports from Mubarak II were 44,105 and
H-foods were 58,440 showing a decline of 43 percent
and 61 percent respectively, compared to the same
period in 2008. This decrease was attributed to increased
competition over ME markets, low demand, lack of high
quality animals and discontinuation of the meat transport
commercial airline (DAALLO airlines) (The commercial
airliner discontinued operations towards the end of 2009)
from
transporting
meat
from
the
operating
slaughterhouse (FSNAU 2010). H-Foods export
slaughterhouse exported few carcasses to ME countries
using Juba airline in 2010 but discontinued shortly
afterwards due to high operational costs (FSNAU 2010).
Challenges
Following concessions by UAE, the meat export market
subsequently grew a great deal from 2006-2008, albeit
90 Int. Res. J. Microbiol.
with challenges as interruptions of exports were
occasioned by:
•
Poor quality livestock due to drought and climatic
shocks (inadequate pasture and water);
•
Increased competition in ME markets by stronger
exporters (e.g. Australia);
•
Low demand of carcasses especially in summer
time when foreign workers are on holidays (FSAU 2009);
•
Under exploitation of the potential of Somali meat
export market;
•
Stiff competition following the resumption of export
of live livestock after the lifting of the trade ban in October
2009 by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA);
•
Stiff competition in export of live livestock by the
ports of Berbera and Bosasso following the construction
and operationalization of quarantine holding grounds in
the two ports by Gulf International Company from the ME;
•
Change of management of operations by DAALLO
Airlines which was the only means of transport of chilled
carcasses from all the export slaughterhouses in Somalia
to ME countries;
•
Temporary ban of cargo from Somalia to KSA after
two explosives were found on 2 planes destined for
America from Yemen complicated the situation.
Carcasses were air freighted to Oman then transported
by refrigerated trucks to United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The quality of most carcasses deteriorated by the time of
reaching the destination market.
Trainings, supply of basic slaughter equipments and
regulations
The human resource development focused on training;
both technical and non-technical personnel working in the
export slaughterhouses. They were trained in food safety
and quality assurance programs including: Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygiene Practices
(GHP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Sanitary
Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP), Hazard
Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, sound
slaughtering techniques, safe recovery of hides and skins
and carcass traceability.
FAO Somalia and implementing partners in
collaboration with government authorities supported
capacity building activities of technical, non-technical and
management staff of the export slaughterhouses in meat
safety and quality assurance practices. The technical
staff trained included meat inspectors, veterinarians
(public and private), electricians, municipal staff (hygiene
and sanitation) and management personnel while nontechnical personnel included livestock stickers, flayers,
slaughterhouse cleaners, meat transporters and general
cleaners around the slaughterhouse. Between 80-92% of
each export slaughterhouses’ workers were trained in
their respective tasks and responsibilities from 2007 to
2009 as indicated in table 2.
The target slaughterhouses were supplied with basic
livestock slaughter equipments like stainless steel knives,
hooks and receptacles, sharpening steels, protective
gear (gumboots, white coats, overalls, aprons, caps, chin
masks and gloves for meat handlers). The non-veterinary
workers and the management personnel who acquired
skills and knowledge in meat quality assurance programs
diligently complied with international food safety
standards until the slaughterhouses stopped operations
due to force majeure constraints or circumstance beyond
the control of the meat exporters like a commercial airline
relied upon for meat export suspending operations and
ban of cargo export to KSA.
Below are a few sample figures (Figure 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6) taken during FAO Somalia intervention activities
between 2007-2009 illustrating the meat production chain
in the export oriented slaughterhouses of Somalia.
Carcass exports
From the carcass export figures from table 3 below,
carcass exports from H-Foods export slaughterhouse
increased by 210% between 2007 and 2008 when FAO
Somalia and development partners initiated the
intervention. It was not the same case in Mubarak II
export slaughterhouse because of frequent insecurity
incidents during2008; the year on intervention. The
conflict, in addition to drought in the region affected
delivery of good quality livestock for slaughter in the
slaughterhouse (FSNAU 2010) contributing to a decline
in carcass exports of 52%.
Regulations
To support continued and sustainable production of high
quality and safe meat that meets international standards,
FAO Somalia provided financial assistance and facilitated
the drafting of the Meat Inspection and Control Act in
2008. The legal framework, regulations and laws once
passed by respective parliaments and enforced, will instil
a measure of control over the production and marketing
of meat, both locally and internationally.
This will
promote quality assurance, safety and suitability of meat
for export and domestic purposes, guaranteeing
sustainable export markets once alternative meat
transport means will be availed. However, meat
production services are currently governed by the
regulations that were established before the collapse of
the former regime.
Beneficiaries of the interventions
The intervention activities by FAO Somalia aimed at
increasing the competitiveness of the Somalia meat
Kinyanjui et al. 91
Figure 1. Sheep and goats in pens ready for slaughter
Figure 3. Final carcass washing
Figure 5. Shrouded carcasses in chiller
Figure 2. Slaughter process
Figure 4. Marked inspected carcasses before shrouding
Figure 6. Refrigerated meat transport truck
Source: Figures; Dr. Wamalwa Kinyanjui, FAO Somalia)
industry and enhanced opportunities within the pastoralist
production system. Moreover production of high quality
meat safeguards the health of consumers at the export
markets increasing its competiveness. Furthermore,
operators in the slaughterhouses under intervention
benefitted from protection from public health hazards as
they worked within the meat production chain.
The benefits trickled down to pastoralists through
better livestock selling prices and high demand. For
livestock traders, it led to increased sales and better
prices. The abattoir workers benefitted through job
security and better terms of service, whereas meat
exporters benefitted through increased sale quantities
and reduced spoilage due to improved hygiene
production standards. The professional animal health
service providers benefitted through increased service
demand and pharmaceutical drug dealers through
increased sales and finally the government in terms of
taxes. However, due to suspension of the only
commercial air transport means of chilled carcasses to
export markets in the ME, an alternative means is being
sort so as to resume the exports that had tremendously
92 Int. Res. J. Microbiol.
Table 2. Number of direct beneficiaries and types of trainings
Slaughterhouse
H-foods
district)
(Burao
Mubarak II (Galkayo
district)
Type of training
GMP, GHP, sound slaughtering
techniques and traceability
SSOP
SOP
GMP, GHP, sound slaughtering
techniques and traceability
SSOP
SOP
No. of
workers
153
No.
trained
143
% trained
126
40
50
102
26
33
81
40
50
32
40
94
Table 3. Exports of sheep and goats carcasses for the last five years
Year
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Mogadishu modern
Not operational
Not operational
80 240
16 717
112 912
Not operational
Carcasses exported per year
Mubarak I
H-Foods (Nos.)
Not operational
20 077
Not operational
58 440
172 739
136 269
186 049
64 900
277 250
183 350
Not operational
75 875
Mubarak II (Nos.)
Not operational
44 105
78 025
118 579 (estimate)
128 537
23 619
Source: FAO Somalia 2010; FSNAU 2010; 2011)
increased especially in H-foods slaughterhouse located in
the peaceful North western Somalia.
CONCLUSION
The training of abattoir workers in food safety and quality
assurance systems and support advanced to publicprivate partnership concept in the meat sector to promote
quality control and certification and safeguard export
market, served as an alternative remedy to live livestock
export ban to ME countries. Capacity building of these
parties went a long way in supporting compliance with
quality assurance practices in meat production sector.
This was apparent from increased carcass sales by
210% between 2007 and end of 2008 by H-foods export
slaughterhouse. However, it was not the same for
Mubarak II export slaughterhouse as the fruits of
intervention were disrupted by the conflict in South
Central Somalia that saw a lot of internally displaced
persons flocking in and out of Galkayo town where the
slaughterhouse is located. The rate of workers turnover
at the slaughterhouse was high affecting application of
skills and knowledge acquired through trainings.
However, observation of quality assurance systems
earlier introduced will enhance commercialization of meat
trade both in domestic and offshore markets.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this paper are those
of the authors and do not necessarily represent the
position of FAO. The designations employed do not imply
FAO’s opinion concerning the legal status of any country,
territory or area including the delimitation of its frontiers or
boundaries. Many actors enabled the successful
accomplishment of this task; their invaluable support is
very much appreciated. Investigators express their
heartfelt appreciation to Luca Alinovi, the Officer incharge of FAO Somalia for accepting and allowing us
total access to FAO facilities, documents and resources
that proved handy in this research work. The project
manager of the EU project (OSRO/SOM/004/E), Dr
George Matete and the Sustainable Economic and
Employment Programme (SEED) (OSRO/SOM/007/UK)
manager, Dr Munyua Solomon, who sponsored the data
collection, are highly acknowledged for the sponsorship.
Mohammed Jama, Officer in-charge of FAO Hargeisa
office, Somaliland, is highly recognized for his invaluable
support.
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