Agriculture is an economic pillar of many countries, regions and communities around the world. In 2018, agriculture accounted for 4% of global gross domestic product (GDP) and over 25% in the least developed countries. It is a primary source of food, income, nutrition, employment, and trade, and is projected to help reduce poverty, raise incomes and improve food security for over 80% of the world’s poor, who live in rural areas and depend on farming. In Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union (EU), agriculture is a key source of foreign exchange and a determinant of international relations through trade. However, agriculture is faced with myriad challenges which inhibit the performance of its crucial value chain components, i.e., production, distribution of commodities and the competitiveness of markets. A study focusing on the similarities and differences existing among Kenya, Uganda, and Albania (EU) cross-border trading was designed and undertaken in 2021 – 2022 with objectives of (i) comparing the livestock sector’s development and market contexts; (ii) identifying the social, economic and political factors that influence cross-border livestock trade; and (iii) ascertaining similarities and differences that are important for the growth of the livestock sector in the countries of study. A comparative research design employing a mixed-method study approach was used and the data analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The study results showed that the greatest similarity between Kenya, Uganda and Albania is that are all Third-World countries with promising economies. Agriculture contributes significantly to their GDPs. The rural population is substantial and livestock plays a pivotal role in households’ well-being. The countries belong to regional economic blocks and have similar livestock production and market-access constraints. The key differences include varying poverty and literacy levels, varying livestock farming systems with family farming advanced in Albania and less pronounced in Kenya and Uganda; varying GDPs and per capita incomes; varying foci, scopes of government policies, priorities and political decisions; varying agricultural financing; variable climates and factors of production. The study concludes that livestock production and marketing challenges in Kenya and Uganda are enormous and they affect cross-border market access efforts. In Albania, quality standards hinder access to EU and global markets. Strategic actions by governments, development partners and livestock farming communities are key in leveraging livestock sector development prospects.
Ekiru Francis Anno, Elenica Beqiraj Pjero, Bobby Ekadon Lotiang. The Cross-Border Livestock Trade in Kenya and Uganda in Comparison to the Albanian (European Union) Context. International Journal of Agricultural Economics. Vol. 7, No. 5, 2022, pp. 232-242. doi: 10.11648/j.ijae.20220705.15