Analysis of the Formal Sesame Seed Supply System in West Gondar Zone, North West Ethiopia

Background: Improved Sesame Seed is a key input for improving Sesame production and productivity. However, the supply sector could not satisfy the growing demands for improved Sesame Seed in West Gondar Zone, North West Ethiopia. The study, therefore, aims at the assessment of the formal sesame seed supply system in West Gondar Zone.
Method: The information was collected from a total of 230 sample household heads, selected using a systematic random sampling technique was collected through interview. Secondary information was also collected from published documents and reports of different agricultural organizations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyses the information.  
Result: The study reveals that the Gondar research center and organizations like International Seed Sector Development, Seed Business Network, Agricultural Transformation Agency and Agricultural Growth Program was the strong actors of Sesame seed supply in the study area. The supply of improved Sesame seed through formal sources is constrained with various factors like shortage of improved seeds supply, cost of improved seeds, lack of awareness and delay in seed supply. It is important to strengthen community-based improved seed multiplication centers to produce an adequate amount of Sesame seed and supply the same time to smallholder farmers at a fair price.