Study reports indicate that Ethiopia is among the top-five producers of oilseeds in the world. One
of the oilseeds for which Ethiopia is known in the international market is sesame. In the last few
years, sesame production and marketing has shown very significant growth. Between 1998 and
2005-06, the total area of production and the quantity of sesame produced has grown threefold.
According to different assessments and the plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development (MoARD), sesame production can potentially triple again.
Similarly, there is considerable international market demand for Ethiopian sesame seed, and this
is expected to continue increasing. The increasing international market demand for sesame is not
only evident in the rise of export volume but also in new buyers coming to the market. The
traditional importers of Ethiopian sesame seed were China, Israel, Turkey and other Middle
Eastern countries. Currently, more European countries and Japan are also trying to enter the
market.
Despite the country’s immense potential to increase its production and productivity and
significantly increase the international market’s demand for sesame, both the production and
marketing system of sesame is full of challenges for all involved parties. The level of productivity
of sesame (seven quintals/hectare) is by far below 50% of the estimated potential of the country
and the average productivity level of other sesame-producing countries.