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Open Access Library Journal 12 2016
Traditional Leather Processing, Production and Marketing in Amhara Regional State of EthiopiaDOI: 10.4236/oalib.1102751, PP. 1-17 Keywords: Traditional Tanners, Traditional Leather Products, Hides and Skins Abstract:
A
study that explores the livelihoods of the traditional tanners was conducted
from November 2013 to April 2014 with the objective of
assessing the prevailing traditional leather production and processing
knowledge, business environment in Amhara regional state of Ethiopia. In-depth interviews were carried out through
direct observation, focal group discussion using a semi-structured
questionnaire by interviewing 30 households located in 3 zones of Amhara region
and those who work on traditional tanning. The result indicated traditional
leather products are important household materials and income generating
business especially for the rural community. To produce traditional leather
products, they follow different steps and procedures and to facilitate this
process in between, they
apply different materials and indigenous vegetables. The involvement of
traditional tanners in the market is significant that the volume of raw cattle
hide they absorb for producing traditional leather goods is more than 600,000 per annum. All the local
tanners who work through the process were made up of young and middle-aged men.
By tradition, local tanners in Ethiopia belong to a low-caster and are looked down upon by other parts of the community. Artisanal
group has suffered from prejudice and relative isolation in society.
Considering the high amount of produced leather waste which contains toxic and
pollutes plant residues, there
should be a great interest to develop a water collection center in the nearby
surrounding so as to protect pollution of water bodies which are reserved both
for humans and animals.
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