Evaluation of Good Cattle Farming and Slaughtering Practices According to the "Halal" Standard in the Vina Division (Cameroon)

Abstract

The market for halal products is constantly growing. It is estimated to be worth approximately 2.3 million USD. With an estimated annual growth rate of 20%, the sector is expected to be valued at approximately 560 billion USD per year in 2030. The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the constraints associated with the implementation of optimal farming and slaughtering practices in accordance with the halal standard within the Vina Division of Cameroon. The study was conducted in the six largest agro-pastoral district municipalities of Vina. Interviews were conducted with religious leaders, farmers, livestock traders, and personnel involved in the slaughtering process. The results demonstrate that the majority of farmers in the Nyambaka district possess the majority of Islamic knowledge related to farming (82.9%) and are of the Fulani ethnicity (71.7%). The primary constraints to the marketing of livestock are the lack of halal bank loans (21.7%) and the inflation of feed prices for livestock (27.2%). The majority of the slaughtering process is carried out manually (91.6%), and the absence of effective hygiene measures at the livestock level (20%) was observed. At the marketing level, over half of the traders have a non-Islamic bank account (68.2%). The primary constraints to the implementation of 'halal' practices are the lack of qualified slaughterhouse personnel (47.6%) and the limited number of slaughterhouses (14.2%).