A Review on the Importance of Developing Evidence-Based Curriculum to Revitalize Leather Based Training

The review paper attempts to focus on the circumstances the leather sector is experiencing in aspects of declining skilled workforce, apathy on enrolling numbers of students and diverted focus of higher education institutions to conduct other courses and non-leather based research themes. In the process, four summarised thematic issues based on the problem reflected upon and critical questions identified. The review subsequently identified that our approach to training and set up of programmes in HE lacks Evidence-Based Curriculum and this has preambles the issues experienced in the various value chain stratums’ at national, regional and global level and impacts. Therefore, the review study evaluates what type of assumptions, theories and methodologies could assist in revitalising the leather sector training goals and incentivise learning and teaching in HE institutions globally. Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) studies the Africa scenario with the learnt experience therein reflecting and providing replicable recommendations for a global platform. However, the study is a ‘tip of the iceberg’ that intends to stimulate discussion in a situation that is worsening and negatively impacting the leather sector worldwide. Conspicuously, constraining factors requiring further research is the need to determine if resolving challenges associated with evidence related to curriculum development, would positively impact on adequacy of professional skilled capacity, improve enrollment rates at HE and tertiary and deter apathetic aspects of various institutions on Rand D. Indeed, as a positive gesture in Africa is that many countries have established policies that identify leather as a priority sector and depicts this study relevant is sustaining the intended progress for the national, regional and global leather value chain. Thusly, in Africa, in particular, the support for successful implementation of evidence-based curricula would lead to specialised skills development that assists the continent to transform its set goals in the realms of highly specialised education and preparedness to globalisation.

Evaluation of salt cured Kenyan hides and skins Part I of a case study at Mariakani Curing premises, Coast province, Kenya

A study was conducted at curing premises at Mariakani at the Coast province of Kenya, where salt curing of hides and skins from Cattle, goat and sheep was evaluated. The parameters investigated eventually compared various species in aspects related to blood yield at slaughter point and moisture loss during preservation in a span of 0, 7 and 14 days. The results indicated that blood yield (%) based on body weight showed Sheep>Goat>Cattle. Moreover, moisture weight was highest on the first 7days and reduced to the minimum on day 14 onwards. However, the highest % moisture loss when Cattle hides, sheep and goat skins were compared indicating that both in day 7 and 14 hides>goat>sheep. Incidentally blood yield of an animal specie positively correlated to that of body weight. This was exhibited when Goat skins (weighing 12 kg ± 2.65) yielded 5.5% ± 1.12 blood of its body weight whilst Sheepskins (weighing 13kg± 2.00) yielded 6.7% ± 1.72 of its body weight. The resultant effluent for such moisture production indicated that various amounts of complex contaminant were produced in the process. The final effluent emanating from the cured hides and skins were further characterized and the parameters such as the COD, Lead, Copper, Zinc, Salinity, particulate matter, pH and turbidity were analysed. It is envisaged that further studies be undertaken to evaluate the effluents impact; on soils, aquatic and atmospheric systems to determine the extent of potential damage to the environment.

Investigation of the Quality of Footwear produced by SMEs: Case study of Kariokor market, Nairobi

The increasing economic growth in Kenya has encouraged the growth of the leather sector. Kenya in its long-term vision to become an industrialized middle-income country by 2030, has identified the key role that the leather sector will play. There is a growing number of SMEs engaged in leather goods and footwear manufacturing around the country. A large number is involved in footwear manufacturing especially school shoes. This has been encouraged by local demand for affordable footwear. Even though production of leather footwear in the informal industry has increased over the years, the country’s local footwear has low market position both locally and internationally. The market share of the SME produced footwear has been attributed to low quality and poor workmanship of the products A survey was carried out to assess the quality of leather shoes produced by SMEs in Kariokor market, Nairobi. Data was collected from 20 respondents who constituted owners and managers of footwear workshops to ascertain if they have adopted the use of quality standards in their footwear fabrication and if their products conform to any laid down quality standards. The survey was carried out using simple random sampling method. The findings showed that none of the SMEs had adopted the use of quality standards and none of them had adopted Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBs) standards. As a consequence, there was no mechanism of ensuring and maintaining conformity to footwear quality. This study recommends increased sensitization of SMEs on the importance of quality standards and quality management system in shoe fabrication.

Utilization of Acacia seyal(Talih) bark powder Extract for Manufacture of Upper leather as Alternative Retanning Agent

This study was conducted at Alfula area which located at longitude 20-28 south and latitude 11-43 north the over all objective of this study were to fill the looser and softer parts of leather in order to produce leathers of more uniform physical properties. This is to investigate that the process will allow for the production of unlined footwear, to improve on the chemical stability of the leather, prompt rapid finishing and delivery to the customer. The plant has been evaluated and reported for application in the retanning of the leather. The process involves extracting the barks of Acacia seyal (Talih) for 1 hour with distilled water (1:10 w/v) at temperature above 80˚C. The Talih extract once was applied during prepared the retanning of wet blue leathers. To determine The efficacy of the pontency and effectiveness of the Acacia seyal (Talih) and extract during the retanning of wet blue leathers when the control and experimental retannage methodologies was applied was determined. The result of Acacia seyal (Talih) retanned compared to Acacia pycnantha(Wattle) retanned leathers. Acacia seyal (Talih) showed good grain tightness and retanned leathers were found to be better than Acacia pycnantha(Wattle) retanned. Further analysis of physical characteristic tests indicated that it can be used as an alternative retanning material

A review on the prerequisites of Evidence-Based Curriculum as a driver to skills development of the leather value chain in Africa

The review study closely introspects’ on the prerequisites of evidence-based curriculum within the realms of specialized skills development agenda as pursued through higher education Institutions in Africa. Explicitly, the constraining factors that bedevil the leather sector are identifiable when appropriate research designs tools are applied. As such, in the process of identifying the constraints, renascence themes could, therefore, be beneficial in collecting evidence in support of developing curriculum. Such a developed curriculum stands higher chances of acceptability and aptly mitigates against challenges related to specialized skills development. The review succinctly indicates that in the process of identifying the themes, the scope of collecting evidence becomes attainable, thus, improving curricula that entails a participatory and transformative orientation. Indeed, during the review phase of the study, three main perspectives are depicted to be consequential in attaining a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum, such as; action research, backward curriculum design perspective and theoretical perspective. Therefore, about this perspective, a reflection based on personal experiences and related to new knowledge with what they already know leads to constructivism. The relevancy of a constructivist strategy is observed to facilitate the observatory and evaluative stance during the development of evidence-based curriculum. Moreover, in consolidating and sustaining the benefit of such a developed curriculum, threshold concept was found during the review that it complements the process and strengthens the collecting evidence for curriculum development. Accordingly, therefore, the result of the review study indicate that Africa would position itself for initiating transformational changes in aspects of specialized higher education, fruition towards socio-economic benefits (e.g. employment, wealth creation and technology transfer), reversal of urban-rural or inter/intra continental migration flurry.

The Uganda’s perspective, status and implementation of the National leather value chain Strategies

Uganda is transforming her leather value chain to a modern and competitive sub-sector, aiming at production of value-added leather materials and leather products from the abundant raw hides and skins at the slaughter houses and abattoirs. The challenge though is the exportation of about 95% of the wet blue product, which is the only processed leather material for export from Uganda. More still, the quantity of wet blue produced and exported from Uganda stands at 1.08 million pieces from hides and 2.01 million pieces from goats and sheep skins amounting to 17.28 m sq. ft and 7.04m sq. Ft, respectively. In total this translates to about 24.32m sq. ft of finished leather if it was to be processed from within Uganda. Taking an average square foot of 2.5 sq. ft per pair of shoes, then this output would give about 9.73m pairs of leather shoes. Since Uganda needs about 25 m pairs of leather shoes per annum, it implies that there would be a deficit of about 16.88 m pairs of shoes per annum. This deficit has been covered by importing about 0.5 m pairs of leather shoes per annum and about 23.5 m pairs of synthetic leather shoes and second-hand shoes combined. Now Uganda exports about 24.32 m sq. ft worth of leather (about 9.73m pairs of shoes) and imports about 0.5 m pairs of leather shoes which is a sixteenth of what is exported. Exportation of unfinished products for processing elsewhere goes with jobs and services as well. For this reason, wet blue product made in Uganda need to be further processed in the country to avail leather and leather products, service like Design Studios, facilities, e.g., incubation centers and jobs. The information about tanneries was obtained by use of a questionnaire in which respondents were tannery industry production managers. In addition, documentary review of the world population on Uganda, Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) abstracts and UBOS census 2014 reports were also used as the source of data. According to the Uganda census 2014, the country’s primary and secondary going children are 10,113,201 students. If for example these students wear leather shoes at 35,000/= per pair per annum then the leather Sector would earn 353bn UGX per annum. This contribution would be about 56 times that which tourism is contributing towards the GDP of Uganda, implying that the leather sector in Uganda, if emphasised could stimulate economic growth of the country.

Reorganization of Beaming in Ecological Perspective

The principal aim of the leather industry, which plays a significant role in today’s global economy, is to transform animal hides/skins into a physically and chemically stable material by subjecting them to chemical and mechanical processes. Leather processings involved in isolation in beamhouse processes generate large volumes of solid wastes and high loaded wastewater which are major source of environmental pollution characterized by chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), chromium (III) and phenolics with high pH, strong odor and dark brown color. In our study, the best practices modelling and eco-compatible process shifts were the objectives for the decrement in high pollution load of large effluent portion for leather industry. Soaking, immunization and liming processes were carried out with reductive chemical additives and surfactants, fibre opening auxiliaries, enzyme based and enzyme assisted chemicals in the factories as an eco-friendly designed recipe. The results revealed the advantages of time saving, cost effectivity, minimized pollution load and quality enhancement in limed pelts compared to conventional process.

A Review of Constructivism in the African Leather Sector Value Chain: Mapping Institutional Orientation Towards Knowledgeability of Value Addition

The paper attempts to review how three critical theories; Stakeholder, constructivist and threshold concept assist in deciphering the challenges associated with knowledgeability in the realm of the leather sector development. The attention draws on the aspect of incomprehension or apperception as a new challenge that potentially impedes Africa’s struggle to transform from commodity dependence to leather product development. Interestingly, the study takes recognition of the importance of skilled workforce availability and relates this to the prospects of value creation. Therefore, the model envisages through its design that potentially, nurture the culture of innovation and subsequently positively impact on productivity and competitiveness in the leather sector. The main outcome of the study indicates that adaption at the Africa Leather and Leather Product Institute (ALLPI) on the theories mentioned played a fundamental role in the transformational process and sustainability of the leather sector. However, if the challenges identified are not curbed the sector will exhibit tensions, and if unchecked, could in the future erode progressive milestones considered core to the leather value chain development of the leather sector in Africa.

THE TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVE OF AFRICA’S LEATHER SECTOR DEPENDENCE FROM COMMODITY TO VALUE CREATED AGRO-BASED PRODUCTS

Africa is currently commodity dependent in its global trade engagement particularly in agro-based sectors where it has strong presence. Therefore, an in depth analysis of the leather industry which is an important component of agri-business in the continent is discussed in this paper. The attempt takes cognizance of its key socio-economic aspects related to unemployment, wealth creation, rural development and gender parity. As such, the need for appropriate transformational strategies as prerequisite to the continent’s sustainable development initiatives are investigated. It is envisaged that these strategies will encompass sustainable models of translating the continent to product dependency and inculcate a diversified approach to the resultant value added products anticipated to have huge potential. The approach is to strengthen Africa’s regional value chain platform as a preamble to the global value chain entry which, for a long time has placed the continent towards commodity dependence. Whilst focusing on the regional value chains, relevant stratums of the leather sector are considered in this paper. This initiative encompasses depiction of Africa’s performance, innovation and developmental strides so far achieved. Major results indicate that low to medium level artisanal skills and long experienced practioners (5-30yrs) consolidates the continent’s strength. In addition, the existence of youthful entrepreneurs (aged 30-49) provides a solid ground for the transformational quest to be pursued in Africa. To actualize on this initiative, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa-Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA-LLPI) in collaboration with The Common Wealth Secretariat (ComSec) has successfully established a regional design studio (RDS) whose objective is to promote value addition, increase productivity and competitiveness, market access, regional integration and incentivize the drive towards product diversification and regional value added product dependence. Thusly, the paper asserts that to attain this aspired position the approach has to be all encompassing, adopt a triple helix approach and operate on a strengthened regional value chain platform.

Preview of Camel (Camelus dromedarius) hides marketing and challenges in Eastern Africa

Camel production in the world has continued taking a centre stage in livestock economics and food security. More conspicuously is the prominence of Camel hide production for specialized leather artifacts worldwide. Of Interest has been the growth of the Camel milk, meat and hide industry in Eastern Africa. Previous areas that had not registered Camel slaughter particularly in the urban and peri-urban areas have become areas of interest with gradual increase demonstrated in this study. However the decline in prices worldwide, poor production technique, inadequate policy and legal frame work and disincentives have been a ‘bottleneck’, in the rapid and potential wealth creating Camel hide industry in Eastern Africa. Indeed with appropriate strategy the potential is rife for the development of the Industry, if appropriate interventions are developed for the cited challenges. The increase of camel meat in urban environment is an indicator that the industry is poised to grow even further. Thus the urgency to attend to the evolving needs is equally critical by all the stakeholders, core or no-core.