Sesame Business Network Newsletter Issue 6 April 2015 SBN Support Programme expands its reach to 38 clusters About this newsletter The purpose of the SBN newsletter is to provide relevant and timely information about the overall activities of the SBN and its Support Programme. In this issue we would like to highlight the major activities that have been taken place between January and March 2015 he SBN Support Programme has recently production areas; existence of market centres; included an additional 19 clusters, there- coverage of sesame cooperatives; size of clusters T by bringing the total number to 38. These and distances between actors; and interests and clusters are located in eight woredas and cover commitment of relevant woredas offices. 73 kebeles in Northwest Ethiopia. Two clusters in Tegede woreda (Amhara) have Detailed analysis of sesame production and been added, as this woreda was unfortunately Inside this issue marketing in North Gondar and Western Tigray overlooked in 2013. Six existing clusters in Tigray has led to the proposition to extend the have been split, because they were geographical- The 38 SBCs and the woredas programme to a total number of 38 clusters. The ly too large or too heterogeneous (small and large in which they fall ...………………........2 points of analysis were: relative importance of farmers). (See the clusters list on page 2) SBN to hold annual meeting …...…2 Improved sesame package shows better performance Targeting women and youth ..……..2 hat is the secret behind harvesting centres where the full package has been applied, SBN regional workshops...……........3 better sesame yields? The answer gave the highest yields. At all farmer training W may well vary, but judging by the centres in North Gondar zone, the full package 20 huge health benefits of sesame……………….….....…………..….4 success of the technologies roll-out activities of treatment performs considerably better in 2014, many farmers in Northwest Ethiopia will comparison with farmers' conventional practices. Some words from farmer be saying the “20 Steps”. The highest mean yield of 5.23 quintal per participants ….………………………......5 hectare was obtained from the full package Between June and October, the SBN Support Mr. Mulualem Milmile „s profile.....6 treatment, whilst farmers‟ conventional practices Programme, together with partners and stake- yielded on average 1.18 quintal per hectare. This HuARC organises a sesame holders of the sesame sector, conducted means that the full package may perform up to research review ……..…...…………....7 activities in rolling-out the improved sesame four times better than farmers‟ conventional North Gondar zone admin to production package (or 20 Steps), including practice. The 20 Steps treatment also showed organise sesame day………….……...7 demos at 916 sites on 823 model farmers‟ increased tolerance of sesame to waterlogging, fields and at 93 farmer training centres. ACSI increases its loan…..….….......7 sped-up crop establishment and enhanced both SBN focal persons and WOA Despite the challenging weather conditions, vigour and branching. It has helped greatly in awarded…………….……………...….…..8 specifically high rainfall at a very late stage in convincing farmers of the importance of input the crop‟s maturation cycle, demonstration plots use in sesame production. (See success stories Upcoming activities...………… .........8 on model farmers‟ fields and at farmer training of model farmers on page 5) Issue 6, April 2015 Sesame Business Network Newsletter Page 2 The 38 SBCs and the woredas in which they fall (green colour denotes SBN to hold annual business meeting, in those SBCs organised in 2013, whereas light blue; new clusters) Mekelle Ethiopia West Tigray zone North Gondar Zone he SBN Support Programme together (Tigray) (Amhara) with C4C/SNV, Agriterra, Tigray and T Amhara Regions Bureau of Agriculture Woreda SBCs Woreda SBCs and Research Institutions will organise the Dansha Zuria Gelego annual SBN meeting in Mekelle from April Tsegede 20-21, 2015. Division Quara Dubaba Werie Selferei The workshop will be held with the objectives May-gaba Bambuwuha of: sharing experiences and learning lessons Selam Gendewuha Brshign from activities that took place since May 2014 (last annual meeting); introducing and exchang- Wolkaiet Adj-jamus Metema Yohannes ing over the strategic agenda and new activities planned for 2015/16; and creating a platform Metema May-timket Shinfa for stakeholders of the SBN to come together Korarit Tumet and seek out new interesting opportunities in Adebay Meka-Kumer working together. Adi-goshu Kokit This year‟s main team of the meeting will be Adi-hirdi Abderafi “Invest more to earn more!” Kafta Humera Abrehajira Mirab Armachiho Sesame Business Cluster actors, partner Maernet Girawuha/Korhumer organisations and projects and authorities from Kafta government will take part in the workshop. Humera May-kadra Ashere Tach Rawiyan Sanja Armachiho Tirkan Jansuma Targeting women and young farmers in SBN May-weyni Seroka Support Programme activities Bereket Ergoye/Marzeneb Baker Tegede reating more competitive, sustainable Shiglil and inclusive sesame value chains is C what the SBN and its Support TIGRAY 20 AMHARA 18 Programme strives to achieve. Enhancing the inclusiveness of sesame business, with a For the 19 new SBCs, basic data have been collected in the last decent share of benefits created for small scale months of 2014. The write-up of the profiles is in process and close to farmers (mainly women and young farmers) and completion. For all SBC‟s a summary document will be prepared also labourers, is a point of concern for the Support Programme. The Support Programme Building Blocks of SBN has recognised that understanding the context 2 zones with regards to gender dynamics and identifying 38 clusters options for supporting equality through support 8 woredas 73 kebeles activities is central to sustainable and inclusive Over 72 Farmers Primary Cooperatives sesame value chain development. Therefore, to 5 Farmers Cooperative Unions understand these dynamics better and to Over 70,000 farmers prepare for practical action, a gender and youth 2 Agricultural Research Centers action research will be conducted during 2015. 8 Offices of Agriculture The focus will be on practical action, with 8 Woreda Cooperative Promotion Offices induced better understanding of the specific Banks challenges for female and young farmers. Microfinance Institutions Issue 6, April 2015 Sesame Business Network Newsletter Page 3 SBN Regional Workshop held at Gondar and Humera towns BN Support Programme in collabora- tion with Gondar and Humera Agricul- S tural Research Centres organised Sesame Business Clusters (SBCs) second Regional Workshops on Monday December 29, 2014 at Gondar and Humera towns. The workshops were mainly held with the objectives of: reviewing implementation and evaluating results of activities of SBC stakeholders and SBN Support Programme in 2014, with emphasis on the rolling-out of the 20 Important Steps to Double Yields and Improve the Quality of Sesame (20 Steps in short); and identifying and discuss- ing some key challenges to the sector. The workshops also aimed at creating platforms Workshop participants at Gondar, attending presentations for SBN stakeholders to discuss how further scaling activities will be conducted in 2015. collaboration of Regional Agricultural presentations, discussions were held on Research Centres, Woreda Offices of the issues presented and on the further On the Amhara side; Dr. Tilaye Teklewold, Agriculture, the SBN Support Programme scaling of improved sesame production deputy director of Amhara Region Agricultur- and other partners in the sesame sector. technologies and rotational crops. al Research Institute (ARARI), and Tigray Participants focus on the coverage of side; Mr. Fesha Berhe, head of Western In both workshops, SBN focal persons scaling activities, expected roles and Tigray administrative zone, officially opened from eight Woreda Offices of Agriculture contributions of different actors. the workshops held at Gondar and Humera at Metema, Quara, Tach Armachiho, respectively. In their opening speeches, Mirab Armachiho and Tegede in North Other important focuses of the workshop both speakers appreciated all stakeholders Gondar and Kafta Humera, Tsegedie discussions were issues of: marketing who participated in the scaling activities and Welkaiet in Western Tigray present- sesame and rotational crops such as that took place on 916 model farmer fields ed their reports on the results of the 20 sorghum, mung bean/green gram, soya and farmer training centres. They also Steps roll-out programme. In their bean and cotton; access to finance; row praised the joint efforts that have been presentations, focal persons empha- planting; availability of quality seed and made to improve the productivity and sised major challenges faced and the fertiliser; integrated pest management; quality of sesame by the SBN Support solutions applied to overcome these loss reduction; strengthening primary Programme, stakeholders and partners. challenges during the implementation of cooperatives; developing saving culture; roll-out. They also presented and other related issues. While presenting The two workshops highlighted the overall their woreda‟s plan for the 2015 produc- their points, participants tried to highlight activities that have been done through tion season. Following the focal persons major activities to be done in 2015, who will do what, with whom and how. The workshop at