ANALYSIS OF TRENDS, OPPORTUNITIES, and CHALLENGES OF TIGRAY SESAME EXPORT MARKET (THE CASE OF -TAHTAY-ADYABO WEREDA)

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the trends, opportunities, and challenges of the Tigray sesame export market in Tahtay-Adiyabo wereda by employing a mixed-methods approach and a cross-sectional survey design, using a census of the entire target population of 24 sesame market actors—including local traders, exporters, Tekeze Union, and the temporary market center—supplemented with focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Findings reveal that sesame marketing in Tigray is highly seasonal, with peak trading in September and complete inactivity from February to August; smallholder farmers supply about 95% of traded sesame, indicating heavy reliance on fragmented production systems. The study further shows that the war severely disrupted the sesame export market through the destruction of roads, warehouses, and stored commodities, causing total cessation of export activities between 2020/21 and 2023/24 and leading to a sharp decline in foreign exchange earnings. Despite this, the sector retains substantial opportunities stemming from high global demand, favorable agro-ecology, the premium quality of Humera-type sesame, and proximity to international markets; however, its performance remains constrained by conflict-related damage, limited finance, weak institutional coordination, transport shortages during peak months, price volatility, inadequate storage infrastructure, and lack of timely market information. Based on these findings, the study recommends first strengthening post-war institutional coordination, infrastructure rehabilitation, and financial support systems to restore export functionality and, second, improving market information flow and storage/transport systems to stabilize prices and enhance the competitiveness of Tigray’s sesame in international markets