Sesame Production In Ethiopia

Sesame production is one of the major agricultural activities and accounts for a large share of agricultural export. The sesame sub sector employs a large number of Ethiopians, generates over 90% of the values of oil seeds exports and contributes a lot to the government revenue (Indiog, 2007))
Sesame production trend in Ethiopia indicates that almost the production is increasing, especially in southwest and northwestern parts of the country which is driven by high market value and suitability of environmental conditions (Wijnands et al., 2007), on yearly basis almost linearly. In nearly fourteen years time (from 1997/98- 2010/11), the total area of sesame production has increased from 64,000 hectares to about 384,683 hectare by an increment
In other words, productivity can be increased through dissemination of improved technologies such as fertilizer and high yielding varieties (HYV) and/or by improving the productive capacity of saying the manager (the farmer). These two are not exclusive because the introduction of modern technology could not bring the expected shift of production frontier, if the existing level of efficiency is low. This implies the need for the integration of modern technologies with improved level of efficiency (Fekadu, 2004). If farmers are sufficiently efficient then increases in productivity require new inputs and technology to shift the production possibility frontier upward. But, on the other hand, if there are significant opportunities to increase productivity through more efficient use of farmers' resources and inputs with current technology, a stronger case could be made for productivity improvement through ameliorating the factors or determinants of inefficiency. However, with the low rate of adoption of improved technologies by farmers in Ethiopia, improvement in efficiency becomes the best option in productivity enhancement in the short run (Idiong, 2007). Information on efficiency of production is important because the presence of shortfalls in efficiency means that output can be
However, Ethiopian government in attempt to increase agricultural productivity through increased use of improved technologies has proved not to bring about the expected productivity gains in short run. This might be due to lack of the necessary technical skills and knowledge in using these technologies, poor extension and credit services, low rate of technological adoption and poor infrastructure and its relative cost among others (Seyoum,1998). In fact, productivity increases not only depend on technological adoption only but also farmers’ technical efficiency