Marketing Efficiency Analysis: A Case of the Eswatini Pork Value Chain

The poor marketing structure remains a major factor impeding the development of Eswatini pig industry and has turned the piggery agricultural sub sector subsistence rather than market-oriented. The objective of the study was to analyse the marketing cost, margin and efficiency of existing channels of the pork value chain in Eswatini. The study used primary data collected from 107 pig producers, 6 abattoirs, 6 meat wholesalers, 50 butcheries, 70 restaurants and 34 retailers of pork from the four regions of Eswatini. A structured questionnaire with the help of interview schedules was used for data collection. The study identifies 10 pork marketing channels in the study area. All the marketing channels were analysed for efficiency using the Acharya approach. The marketing channel that involved producers - abattoirs - consumers was found to be more efficient with an index of 1.8, a producer share of 64% and a lowest total gross marketing margin of E 21 per kg of pork. The findings indicated that the pork value chain is quite profitable and efficient at some stages and channels along the chain. The study recommends that government should set policies and strategies in order to enhance pig producers and small scale market agents participate fully in pork markets. Government should also set proper policies for the price regulation of electricity, water and communication as they play a pivotal role in pork marketing.