The Future of Somaliland Livestock Exports: Examining the Sustainability of Livestock Trade

Abstract

Livestock is considered as the largest and most crucial sector of Somaliland economy, in terms of employment and income generation. Livestock production is so paramount that it employs over 70 percent of the population and contributes 60 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and 85 percent of the export earnings. Taking its importance into account, livestock production recently faced numerous challenges which are likely to put at risk the sustainability of livestock trade and the future of its exports. This study aims to probe the sustainability of Somaliland livestock trade and the future of its exports. It specifically examines the effect of natural environmental factors, institutional factors, competition from neighboring countries and threats originating from export destinations. Given the impact of both internal and external factors, the study finds that the sustainability of Somaliland livestock trade is in jeopardy, while the future of livestock exports is not bright.

Keywords

• livestock production
• livestock trade
• nomadic pastoralism
• somaliland