Data from "Livestock marketing practices and determinants of livestock market supply among pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in the arid and semi-arid areas of Ethiopia"

Title: Livestock marketing practices and determinants of livestock market supply among pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in the arid and semi-arid areas of Ethiopia Description: This dataset encompasses a comprehensive analysis of livestock marketing practices and the determinants influencing livestock market supply among pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in the South Omo Zone, Ethiopia. The study employed a cross-sectional design integrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Quantitative Component:A structured survey was administered to 383 households across four districts, collecting data on various aspects of livestock marketing. The primary dependent variable, livestock sales volume, was quantified in Total Livestock Units (TLU). Multiple log-linear Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression with robust standard errors was utilized to analyze the data. Qualitative Component:Eight focus group discussions and 24 key informant interviews were conducted to gain deeper insights into the contextual factors affecting livestock marketing practices. Key Findings: Demographics: 60.1% of respondents were male, and 39.9% were female. Livestock Sales Participation: Goats were the most frequently traded livestock, with 60.1% of households participating in their sale, followed by cattle and sheep. Market Types: 88.5% of livestock transactions occurred in formal markets, including both primary and secondary markets, while only a small fraction took place in informal markets such as bush and street venues. Market Choice Factors: 61.4% of respondents cited price advantage as the primary factor influencing their market choice. Market Integration: Despite observing an increase in demand for pastoral livestock (82.6%), 76.4% of participants primarily sold to domestic traders, indicating limited integration into formal and higher-value markets. Determinants of Livestock Sales: The regression analysis identified several significant predictors of livestock sales: Positive Predictors: Higher educational levels (β = 0.108, p < 0.001) Access to credit (β = 0.344, p < 0.001) Diversified income sources (β = 0.444, p < 0.001) Larger herd size (log-TLU; β = 0.130, p < 0.001) Access to market information (β = 0.997, p < 0.001) Negative Predictor: Distance to market (β = –0.057, p < 0.001) Implications:The findings underscore the importance of enhancing education, expanding credit access, improving information flow, and developing infrastructure to increase market participation and improve livelihoods in pastoral contexts. Data Files: Survey Data (Quantitative):Structured dataset containing responses from 383 households, including variables such as household demographics, livestock holdings, market participation, and sales volumes. Codebook:A comprehensive codebook detailing variable definitions, coding schemes, and data collection methodologies. Keywords: Livestock marketing, pastoralism, agro-pastoralism, Ethiopia, South Omo Zone, market supply determinants, Total Livestock Units, regression analysis, focus group discussions, key informant interviews Licensing: This dataset is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), permitting sharing and adaptation with appropriate credit. Contact Information: Principal Investigator: Dr. Rahmeto AbebeAffiliation: Hawassa UniversityEmail: [e-mail] Co-Investigators:Abate Yesigat Taye; Email: [e-mail] Nigussie Afesha; Email: [e-mail] Akalewold Fedilu; Email: [e-mail] Mulye Girma; Email: [e-mail] Yaynabeba Abayneh; Email: [e-mail] Haile Welearegay; Email: [e-mail] Mebratu Mulatu; [e-mail]