Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development

Value Chain Analysis of Sesame in Ethiopia.

Abstract

Accepted 3^rd April, 2017

Sesame seed is Ethiopia’s main exported product after coffee. From 2000 to 2016, the total quantity exported annually increased from 31 thousand tones to about 317 thousand tones, an increase of more than tenfold. From different possible sesame chain the most common trend is farmers sell their produce to the spot market where all the sesame is bulked. In almost each Kebele a primary market has been allocated where legal trade may take place. From the primary market the sesame goes to the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), where the sesame is graded into different quality groups (1-5). From the ECX the graded sesame goes to the export traders, who sell it to the international buyers. Sesame value chain in Ethiopia has several constraints which hinder effective value chain of the commodity. Some of the constraints reviewed in this article was lack of improved cultivars, poor seed supply systems; poor agricultural production techniques and post-harvest crop management, weak farmers organization to engage in the value chain, poor market information systems, limited financial material and skills for oilseed processing, limited use of traditional agricultural inputs and little research support to increase yields, and erratic rainfalls.

Keywords: ECX,  Ethiopia  Sesame  Value chain