Marketing of goat and sheep skins in highland Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigated the market of skins of small ruminants through interviews with market agents in highland Balochistan. Two major factors affected skin prices: seasonality and animal species. Prices for sheep and goat skins received by butchers in winter were 16–22% higher than prices in summer. Sheep skin prices were 38–83% higher than for goat skins. All butchers sold their skins directly to wholesalers, ‘beoparis’, who collect the skins. Across all areas, only the market margin (difference between price received by butchers and beoparis) of goat skins was significant. Beoparis graded skins by size and used place of origin as an extra criterion. One-third to one-half of the butchers borrowed money from beoparis to finance their operations, while 12–19% of the beoparis borrowed from commission agents. None of the butcher merchants borrowed from private or public financial institutions. Price information flowed on a one-to-one basis, and there was no agency that monitored skin prices. Because of poor management, most of the skins of highland Balochistan were of low quality in terms of size, thickness, flaying cuts and scars. To induce producers to deliver animals with better skins, it is necessary to show them that there are consistent price differences for different skin qualities. Through a market information system, price information could be regularly collected, analyzed and disseminated through radio and newspaper communications.