Analysis of Leather Value Chain in Tanzania: The Case of Mwanza City
This study was carried out to analyze the value chain of leather in Tanzania taking a case study of Mwanza city. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: to asses’ leather value chain, to determine performance of key actors within leather value chain, and to identify challenges facing key actors within leather value chain. Data for the study were collected from a sample of 211 respondents (key actors in leather value chain), using combination of data collection methods. The findings of this study revealed that there are many chains within the study area, the numbers of middlemen might add the costs of production and reduce the quality of product, factors which damage the quality of hides and skins varies from one actor to another, hides and skins traders and leather tanner are the only two actors who are getting higher profit compared to other actors while livestock keepers is the actor who is getting low profit, and the challenges facing key actors in leather value chain also varies from one actor to another. The study recommends the followings: to strengthen leather value chain which will narrow the information gap between the key actors in leather value chain, to avoid the uses of middlemen for the purpose of quality and price of finished products, to have strictly control of the factors that damage the quality of hides and skins, to encourage in country processing, and to strengthen Leather Association of Tanzania (LAT) so that it can effectively tackle identified challenges.
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