Sesame Production, Challenges and Opportunities in Ethiopia

Girmay Abadi Berhane*


Research Articles | Published:

Print ISSN : 0970-4078.
Online ISSN : 2229-4473.
Website:www.vegetosindia.org
Pub Email: contact@vegetosindia.org
Doi: 10.5958/2229-4473.2018.00007.1
First Page: 51
Last Page: 56
Views: 543


Keywords: Sesame crop, production, opportunity, challenges, Ethiopia.


Abstract


Oilseeds are the second most export crops next to coffee in Ethiopia. Among the different oil crops, sesame is the second most important agricultural commodity next to coffee in foreign exchange earning to more than $449 million. It is the most ancient oil crop adapted to tropics and sub-tropics around the world. Sesame grows in Tigray, Amhara, Gambella, Benshangul Gumuz, Somalia, SNNP and Oromia regions in Ethiopia. However, productivity of sesame is very low due to several reasons. Traditional production technology, weeds, insect pests and diseases, climate change impacts, domestic and global market fluctuations and low research and expert knowledge and skill, are among the major challenges for sesame production in Ethiopia. On the contrary, vast area for sesame cultivation, irrigable area, low labor, government initiation in support of the commodity and varietal diversity are the production opportunities for production of sesame in Ethiopia. Hence; the national productivity of sesame is 730kg/ha. These necessitates improving the production techniques, improve productivity, and developing varieties with higher productivity potential, wider adaptability, application of improved crop protection techniques, and capacity building for experts on agronomic practices; will have vital role in providing modern sesame production systems in Ethiopia.


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References



Acknowledgements



Author Information


Girmay Abadi Berhane*
Department of Plant Sciences, Aksum University, Ethiopia

*Corresponding author: Department of Plant Sciences, Aksum University, Ethiopia E-mail: aabay203@gmail.com or abadiberhane2013@yahoo.com