This paper reviews existing literature to comprehensively assess the current status of hides and skins collection systems in Ethiopia and to identify the critical bottlenecks hindering operational efficiency. As a significant source of foreign exchange for the country, the sector's performance is constrained by a multitude of interrelated challenges. The review synthesizes findings to highlight that the primary constraints (bottlenecks) exist across the pre-slaughter, post-slaughter, and marketing stages. Key issues identified include: high prevalence of pre-slaughter defects due to disease, poor animal husbandry, and improper handling; post-slaughter damage from flaying defects, inadequate preservation methods (e.g., insufficient salting), and poor storage conditions; and inefficient supply chains characterized by fragmented collection networks, multi-layered intermediaries, lack of market information, and weak infrastructure. Furthermore, the review notes systemic gaps in quality-based pricing, technological adoption, access to finance for collectors and processors, and regulatory enforcement. The analysis concludes that enhancing the efficiency and quality of hides and skins collection in Ethiopia requires an integrated intervention strategy. This strategy must address technical, institutional, economic, and infrastructural bottlenecks simultaneously to unlock the sector's full economic potential and improve its competitiveness in the global market.
Teklay Asgedom Teferi (PhD)* (Wed,) studied this question.