Sesame Producers Research Articles

Smallholder Sesame Producers’ Adaptation Decisions to Climate Change and Its Determinants in Western Ethiopia

The agricultural sector remains the main source of livelihood for rural communities in Ethiopia, but the challenge of changing climate continues to pose a serious threat to its development. This study investigated factors affecting smallholder farmers’ decisions to adopt adaptation options to climate change in West Ethiopia using data collected from 400 sampled households. The Rainfall Satisfaction Index and Multinomial Logit Model were used to analyze farmers’ exposure to climate variability and factors that shape farmers' adaptation strategies. The findings of the study showed that the majority of farmers are experiencing high exposure to climate change both in terms of variable rainfall and rising temperature. In response, to adapt to the impact of climate change farmers were participating in agronomic practices, livelihood diversification, soil and water conservation, and small-scale irrigation as the dominant adaptation options. It is also observed that adopting agronomic practices was significantly impacted by social capital, crop failure experience, and access to early warning. Gender of the household, education, and livestock ownership were found to have a negative relationship with livelihood diversification. The study further revealed that soil and water conservation measures are positively affected by perception of temperature increment, exposure to early warning systems, and larger size of cultivated land. In addition, the adoption of small-scale irrigation was significantly influenced by access to credit, social capital, and the educational status of household heads. Consequently, the result implies that programs and policies designed to curb the calamities of climate change should emphasize creating effective early warning systems to increase farmer awareness, reach farmers with effective microfinance institutions, and encourage farmers’ ties to many social cooperatives.

Sesame renaissance: Iran’s emerging influence in the global sesame market

Sesame seeds and their various derivatives, such as sesame oil, can be special in household diets worldwide due to their unique nutritional and health properties. Despite the long history of sesame cultivation in Iran and its suitability to the Iranian climate, Iran remains an importer of sesame. In other words, sesame production in Iran faces numerous constraints and obstacles, limiting its production capacity. This study aims to present sesame production status in Iran over the past 22 yr, elucidating the production trends, quantity and value of imports, obstacles, and solutions for sustainable sesame seed production in the country. To achieve this goal, in addition to reviewing national and international databases, extensive correspondence was conducted with stakeholders in sesame production, ranging from farmers to researchers, promoters, and policymakers, to compile a comprehensive list of leading challenges in sesame production and operational solutions to overcome these challenges. The analysis revealed that the most significant challenges in sesame production in the country could be categorised into seven main sections, including poor agronomic management, soil fertility decline, pest, diseases and weed issues, inadequate breeding programs, lack of sustainable financial support, an uncertain sesame market and fragmented and ineffective research. To address these issues, it is essential to enhance sesame production by updating agricultural management practices, introducing and making high-yielding and stress-tolerant varieties accessible, improving soil management techniques, conducting applied research, and transferring knowledge to farms. Also, establishing sesame producer associations and cooperatives can help eliminate intermediaries in the production-to-sales chain. Timely support from government institutions for small-scale sesame producers and raising consumer awareness of sesame’s nutritional and health benefits and its by-products are crucial to overcoming these challenges. All these actions can lead to the promotion and development of sesame production in Iran to meet the high domestic and global demand for this valuable and nutritious seed. This cannot be achieved without increased interaction between farmers, researchers, promoters, and policymakers.

HOW USING WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION SERVICES MAY IMPACT FARM PRODUCTIVITY AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY: EVIDENCE FROM COWPEA AND SESAME PRODUCERS IN BURKINA FASO

Weather and climate information services (WCIS) are recognized as a powerful tool to support the management of climate risk in the context of climate variability. However, the picture of its value for agriculture is not yet well evaluated. This study used the Average Treatment Effect (ATE) framework to assess the impact of WCIS use on yield, income and technical efficiency of cowpea and sesame production in Burkina Faso. The study involved 170 farmers from 17 villages including 11 experimental villages exposed to WCIS and 6 control villages not exposed. The study found that farmers exposed to WCIS changed their crop management’s practices. A significant number of farmers used forecasts of the rainy season’ length and the onset date to choose which crop and variety to grow, which location and size of plots to crop. Daily forecast information was used for farm crop operations (choosing the date of land preparation, sowing, fertilizing, weeding, etc.), while the seasonal forecast was used for strategic decision (selection of crop and production site location). The use of farm inputs and labor requirements are different between climate-informed farmers and non-exposed farmers, the latter farmers tending to use more labor. The study showed that cowpea producers using WCIS obtained significantly higher yields (848[Formula: see text]kg/ha on an average compared to 675[Formula: see text]kg/ha for non-WCIS users); higher gross margin (34% higher than non-users). However, the impact of WCIS was not significant for sesame production. This may translate the strong linkage and dependence of the effectiveness of using WCIS with other factors than just climate variability, particularly the ability of the farmer to understand and apply relevant agro-met-advisories and crop–soil–water attributes.

Analysis of Poverty Status among Sesame Producers in Some Selected Local Government Areas of Katsina State, Nigeria

The study analyzed the poverty status among sesame producers in some selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Katsina State, Nigeria. Poverty status among farming households in Katsina State is high despite being a state suitable for sesame production. Sesame is a high value. Primary data were collected from 90 selected sesame producers using a multistage sampling technique across the LGAs of Katsina State prominent in sesame production and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty model were used for data analysis. The results on the socioeconomic characteristics of producers revealed a mean age of 43 years, an average household size of 8 persons and a mean year of experience in sesame production of 7 years. The average farm size was 2.42 ha with an average annual income of ₦272,596.16. The result of the analysis of the sesame producer’s poverty status revealed a high poverty incidence of 86.67%. It was concluded that poverty incidence was very high among sesame producers in Katsina State. The study recommends that there should be more investment in the sesame production enterprise by the sesame farmers to increase output and profit and consequently improve their poverty status. Effective extension services should be put in place to educate sesame farmers to improve production techniques and management practices for increased output.

Profitability of Sesame Production in Some Selected Local Government Areas of Katsina State, Nigeria

The study analyzed the economics of sesame production in Katsina State, Nigeria. Farmers in Katsina State are mostly small-scale farmers and are often faced with the problem of low productivity and profitability. Despite the economic importance of sesame seed, export potentials and world demand, sesame producers are yet to achieve a significant increase in their output and income Primary data were collected from 90 selected sesame producers using a multistage sampling technique across Katsina State and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Gross Margin (GM) model was used for data analysis. The results revealed that sesame producers in Katsina State incurred an average Total Variable Cost (TVC) of ₦117,942.28 with the cost of labour amounting to ₦46,611.50 which accounts for about 39.52% of the TVC of production. The result also revealed a positive gross margin of ₦118,469.29/Ha with a Return per Naira Invested (RNI) of ₦2.00. It was concluded that sesame production is an important and profitable enterprise in Katsina State based on a positive GM and RNI of ₦2.00. The study recommends that there should be more investment in the sesame production enterprise by the sesame farmers to increase output and profit. Effective extension services should be put in place by KTARDA to educate sesame farmers on improved production techniques while community-based organizations should be strengthened for accessing agricultural loans as a group.

Determinants of Sesame Market Supply in West Omo and Bench Sheko Zones, Southwest Ethiopia

Farmers depend on sesame farming as their major source of income in West Omo and Bench Sheko zones. However, they face diverse marketing challenges to deliver their product to the market. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the variables that affect sesame market supply in West Omo and Bench Sheko zones. The study’s data were gathered from primary and secondary sources. Multistage random sampling was employed to select 270 sample sesame producers. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics as well as econometric models. Multiple regression model results showed that total livestock unit, sesame farming experience, cooperative membership, family size, land under sesame, annual off-farm income, participation in training, and distance to the nearest market significantly affected the amount of sesame supplied to the market. The study recommends strengthening sesame producer cooperative, promoting experience sharing among experienced farmers, improving transportation accessibility and infrastructure development, increasing productivity by fortifying extension service providers, and encouraging sesame producers to participate actively in various trainings.

Moroccan sesame: Current situation, challenges, and recommended actions for its development

Sesame (Sesamum indicumL.) is one of the most recommended oil crops due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. It is a tropical and subtropical plant; however, it is also cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions, including Morocco. Nevertheless, the sesame crop in this country faces many constraints and challenges that restrict its production potential. The objective of this study is to present the situation of sesame production in Morocco during the last twenty years by describing and discussing the seed production, the harvested area, the value of imports, and the most important challenges. Also, some relevant strategies and measures to counteract these constraints and, thus, improve sesame production have been proposed and discussed. To make a fair diagnosis, a survey was carried out among 33 sesame producers in the Tadla area, in addition to the national and international databases that were consulted. The results showed that sesame area and production dropped markedly between 2000 and 2020. As a result, the import quantities and values have been significantly and gradually increased during the same period. The observed decline in both the area and the production may be due to several constraints including recurrent drought, restricted supply in irrigation water, poor cultural practices, low-yielding cultivars, and pests and diseases. Therefore, there is an urgent need for scientific research in terms of breeding to develop and release high-performing and adapted varieties and crop management to find and adopt the best cultural practices. Besides, sesame producers should organize themselves in associations or cooperatives to ensure an added value of their production and improve their profit margin and income. All these actions and measures would be able to promote and develop the sesame sector in Morocco to meet and satisfy the high domestic and global demand for this precious and valuable seed.

Production Efficiency of Sesame Producer Farm Households: The Case of Bench Maji Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Motives: Agricultural sector in Ethiopia is characterized by its poor performance, despite the livelihoods of the large population of the country depends on agriculture. Sesame is an important cash crop and plays vital role in the livelihood of many people in Ethiopia. However a number of challenges hindered the development of sesame sector along with the productivity. Aim: This study attempted to analyze production efficiency of sesame producers in Bench Maji Zone of Southwest Ethiopia. The study used both primary and secondary data sources. Purposive sampling techniques were employed to draw 270 sesame producer farm households. Descriptive statistics and econometric models were used to analyze the data. Results: The estimated stochastic production frontier model indicated that input variables such as inorganic fertilizer, sesame seed, oxen power, labor and chemicals found to be important factors in increasing the level of sesame output in the study area. The result further revealed significant differences in production efficiency among sesame growing farmers in the study area. Applying the Cobb-Douglas functional form the average, technical, allocative and economic efficiencies found are 50.72%, 86.83% and 44.2% for sesame producers, respectively. Also among fourteen variables used in the analysis of determinants, experience in sesame farming, education level, farm income, total cultivated land, social responsibility, frequency of extension contact, participation in off/nonfarm activities, credit, proximity to market and soil fertility were found to be significant sources of technical, allocative and economic inefficiencies of sesame producer farmers. Strengthening education, extension service, credit access at affordable interest rate and accessibility of transport services and motivating farm household to participate different training as well as their experience sharing with other sesame producing farmers improve productivity of sesame production. Therefore, those important socioeconomic and institutional factors which are mentioned above must take into account to improve the productivity of sesame in the study area.

Analysis of Benefit Cost Ratio of Sesame Production under Demonstration in Low Lands of Western Zone, Tigray, Ethiopia

This study aimed to investigate the cost-benefit of sesame production per hectare under (farmers practice, partial package and full package) practice were farmers performed side by side in their plot. Benefit cost ratio analyses of sesame was conducted in western low lands of Tigray. It includes the production year of 2016/17 E.C and bounded of two woredas with six production sites. In the present study 40 respondents of sesame producers were incorporated. Producers were categorized in to full package (row planting, fertilizer and improved seed users), partial package (broadcast, fertilizer and improved seed users) and non package (broad cast and improved seed). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 in terms of percentage, mean, model and others. On the other hand, per hectare yield, return, production cost, and benefit cost ratio of each package were statistically different. The mean productivity per hectare for full package, partial package and non package was 6.55, 5.26 and 3.85 quintal sequentially. The mean return per hectare of full package, partial package, and non package was 26243.75, 21746.25 and 13178.91 birr sequentially. The production cost per hectare of full package, partial package, and non package was 13826.74, 12561.35 and 8681.46 birr respectively. The mean benefit cost ratio was 1.90, 1.74 and 1.50 birr respectively for full package, partial package and non package.

Do smallholder farmers ensure resource use efficiency in developing countries? Technical efficiency of sesame production in Western Tigrai, Ethiopia

The study was designed to analyze the technical efficiency of input use among the sesame producer farmers' in Maykadra Kebelle, Kafta-Humera district, Tigrai, Ethiopia; identified factors that influence farmers' resource use efficiency. Primary and secondary data sources were used and random sampling method was applied to select 187 sample sesame producers. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire interview. Tobit two-stage model was employed to estimate farmers' resource efficiency of sesame production. In the first stage, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used to analyze farmers' technical and scale efficiency. In the second stage, factors that influence farmers' resource use efficiency were identified using the Tobit model. The DEA result indicated that the technical and scale efficiency of sesame producer farmers were 52% and 55% respectively. The result also revealed that under-utilization of the production inputs under consideration, especially land size and amount of seed used. Moreover, farmers’ planting method (P = 0.030∗∗), age of the household head (P = 0.042∗∗), land size (P = 0.002∗∗∗), education of the household head (P = 0.001∗∗∗), and total asset owned (P = 0.024∗∗) were associated with farmers optimal input-output mix of sesame production. As a result, it can be concluded that smallholder farmers in the study area were inefficient in using inputs in sesame production. Therefore, the current inefficiency in sesame production could be improved by giving special attention and working on the factors that affect optimal input-output mix at the farm level.

Nitrogen fertilization on the agro-economic performance of sesame in the Brazilian semiarid

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the agro-economic performance of sesame (Sesamum indicum) under nitrogen fertigation in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with four replicates, and the treatments were arranged in a split-plot, where the plots were assigned five N rates (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha-1) and the sub-plots were represented by four sesame genotypes ('CNPA G2', 'CNPA G3', 'CNPA G4', and 'BRS Seda'). The following variables were evaluated in two agricultural harvests in 2016: gross and net incomes, rate of return, and profit margin. In both harvests, there was a variation in production costs between N rates. In the second harvest, the highest values of net income were achieved with 120 kg ha-1 N fertigation, being: R$7,428.36 ha-1 for 'CNPA G2', R$8,630.74 ha-1 for 'CNPA G3', R$9,828.64 ha-1 for 'CNPA G4', and R$8,354.06 ha-1 for 'BRS Seda'. Increasing N rates provide an increase in the gross income, net income, rate of return, and profit margin for sesame producers. Fertigation with 120 kg ha-1 N provides the maximum agro-economic performance for sesame, whereas the 'CNPA G4' genotype shows the greatest agro-economic efficiency.

Analysis of Profit Efficiency of Sesame Production in Yobe State, Nigeria: A Stochastic Translog Profit Function Approach

Aims: Sesame productions are constantly bedeviled with menace because of inadequate supply of quality seed, extension services, credit facilities, presence of inefficiencies among others. The capacity of sesame producers to accept new innovation and achieve sustained production relies upon the level of profit efficiency, generally dictated by variable input and output prices including the cost of fixed factors of production. Physical profitability contemplations such technical, allocative and economic efficiency are significant in improving production proficiency but profit efficiency will result to higher profit to sesame farmers. This paper examined the profit efficiency of sesame production in Yobe State, Nigeria.
 Research Methods: Multistage sampling procedure is utilized to choose the farmers. A structured questionnaire is administered to 180 respondents spread across 12 Local Government Areas to acquired essential information. Descriptive statistics used includes mean, frequency and percentage. The inferential statistic used is stochastic translog profit function.
 Findings: The result of levels of profit efficiency shows the mean profit efficiency of 0.8828. The result of the translog profit function indicates the sigma square to be 0.249 and variance of 0.909. All the cost variables has negative coefficients and significant at one percent level except for cost of farmlands. The inefficiency variables levels of education, Access to Extension Services, Access to credits among others reduce inefficiency while off-farm income and access to market information increase inefficiency.
 Conclusion: It can be concluded that inefficiency exist in the utilization of resources. All the input cost variable decreases profit efficiency and all the socioeconomic characteristics decreases profit inefficiency with the exception of, off-farm income and access to market information which were found to increase profit inefficiency.

Environmental Implication of Sesame Production in Tanzania: A Case Study of Kilwa District, Lindi Region

This paper analyses the possibilities for sustainable land use management at farm level to preserve the tropical rainforest in the Lindi region, Tanzania. It investigates the implication of agricultural production, in particular a high valued sesame production on household deforestation in Kilwa district, in Lindi region. The choice of the study area is because Lindi region is one of the leading sesame producers in the country. The analysis is based on data collected in Kilwa district, from a sample of 310 households in six village. The key question in the questionnaire administered to heads of households was, among others, factors that influenced their decision to clear new land for sesame farming in the previous crop season. Thus, the study set out to understand drivers of deforestation in Lindi region at the household level. Using bivariate Probit model it investigated whether sesame production influenced clearance of new area. The main findings of this study indicate that even though sesame production influence household welfare positively, it is also likely to affect the environment negatively. It recommends the need to put in place appropriate policies and infrastructure such that farmers can increase productivity without the need to expand farm land.
 JEL Classification: Q1, Q17

Marketing Chain and Structure, Conduct and Performance of Sesame: The Case of Kafta Humera District, Western Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

This study analyzed marketing chain and structure, conduct and performance of sesame in Kafta Humera district of Tigray region, Ethiopia; using primary and secondary data obtained from field survey and desk review using a semi-structured questionnaire. Multistage random sampling technique was used to draw 128 and 126 small and, large-scale sesame producers, respectively. Also, a total of 44 assemblers, 5 cooperatives, 13 exporters and one processor were interviewed. Applying the descriptive statistics method and market observation of the researcher; the major sesame market chain actors were producers, assemblers, cooperatives, exporters and processors. The concentration ratios of the first four and eight large local assemblers and exporters indicated that there was a weak oligopoly market structure. It is also found that there were entry barriers, information asymmetry and collusion in price-setting; indicating that sesame market was deviating from the norms of competitive market structure. Considering free on board of hulled sesame price; the gross marketing margins of 5%, 12% and 45% and net marketing margins of 1%, 3% and 17% obtained by assemblers, exporters and processors, respectively. But, Considering the free-on-board price of raw sesame; the gross marketing margins of 7%, 18% and about 75% and net marketing margins of 1.13%, 4.41% and 4.85% obtained by assemblers, exporters and producers, respectively. All these indicating that the sesame market was being poorly performing. Depending on the results found this study recommends, it will be better if the focus is given to value-added product export, securing competitive market through minimizing entry barriers, strengthening timely updated market information and formal credit access, hiring marketing experts at market centres to control collusion of traders in price setting.

Review on Economic Efficiency of Smallholders Farmers in the Production of Sesame: The Case of Ethiopia

The objective of this study is to review economic efficiency of smallholder farmers in sesame production in Ethiopia. Specifically, the review examines levels of Technical, Allocative and Economic efficiencies of sesame producer; and to review factors affecting efficiency of smallholder farmers in the study area. For this study both published and unpublished sources were used. Also, the study reviewed various functional forms that were fitted to estimate Technical, Allocative and Economic efficiencies levels and model that were fitted to estimate factor affecting efficiency of smallholder farmers. The review results indicate Cob-Douglas function and Translog functional form are alternative methods for evaluating efficiencies and were used for purposes of comparison; OLS is mainly used if the inefficiency scores are not truncated or censored for a specific value; Tobit regression approach is preferred over the OLS regression in the case of censored data. The review results indicate as there is a room to increase the efficiency of sesame producers. Variables such as non-farm income and credit access, experience in sesame production, distance of sesame farm from residence, education level and extension contact had major significant impact on Technical, Allocative and Economic efficiency. In order to improve efficiency of smallholder farmers in sesame production in Ethiopia, give consideration to the above mentioned socio economic and institutional factors is needed. Focusing on efficient use of existing resources and addressing the socio-economic and institutional factors by using existing technology and given input levels are crucial and relevant policy issues are recommended. Strengthening the existing livestock production system, credit access, agricultural extension system and invest in the provision of basic education to smallholder farmers are advisable.

ECONOMICS OF SESAME PRODUCTION IN MISAU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

The study was undertaken to examine economics of sesame production in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Data used for the study were obtained using structured questionnaire administered to 133 randomly selected small scale sesame farmers in the two districts within 16 village areas in the local government area in 2012 farming season. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and stochastic frontier production function. The result from the gross margin analysis revealed that, farm labour was the most important cost item accounting for 77.42% of the total cost of sesame production. The gross margin of N40,226.62/ha was obtained. Findings from the stochastic frontier revealed that technical efficiency of the farmers varied from 0.82 to 0.99 with mean value of 0.91 indicating room for farm efficiency improvement by 9.0%. The major contributing factors to inefficiency were age and extension contact. Based on the findings of this work, it is recommends that the amount of farm labour should be increased even at higher price, farm size should be increased at reduced price and fertilizer should be increased at prevailing market price so as to increase the efficiency status of the sesame producers.

Value Chain Analysis of Sesame the Case of Bench Maji Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

This study was analyzed value chain analysis of sesame in Bench Maji Zone of Southwestern, Ethiopia. It was specifically aimed to address the research gaps by, identifying the major value chain actors and mapping the value chain, and identifying major factors affecting market outlet choices of sesame producers in Meinit Goldya and Guraferda Districts. For addressing these objectives the study used both primary and secondary data obtained from field survey and desk review. Multistage random sampling technique was used to draw 270 sesame producers. Descriptive statistics and econometric method of data analysis were used to analyze the data. The major value chain actors for sesame marketing in the districts were producers, wholesalers, rural collector, cooperatives, broker/commission agents, retailers, local consumers, ECX, exporters and non-governmental organizations. The multivariate probit model results indicated that Years of experiences, Coop membership, household size, Education level, Land under sesame, Quantity supply, participating in training and distance to nearest market significantly influenced sesame producer’s choice of market outlet. Depending on results of this study recommend that strengthening farmers sesame cooperative and enhancing the financial capacity of cooperative, improving accessibility of Transport services and developing infrastructure, improving farmers’ knowledge through adult education as well as their experience sharing with other sesame producing farmers, improving productivity through strengthening supportive institutions(extension service provider) motivating sesame producing farm household to participate different training. Therefore, those important socioeconomic and institutional factors which are mentioned above must take into account to improve the productivity of sesame in the study area.

A Study on Relationship between Technical Efficiency and Climate Change Manifestations among Sesame Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria

The present study aims to analyse the relationship between technical efficiency and the adverse effect of climate change manifestations among sesame farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. A combination of purposive and random sampling techniques was used to select 372 sesame producers. Data were analysed by using the Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function and Spearman correlation. The stochastic production function showed that farm size, seed, fertilizer, agrochemical and family labour significantly affect sesame output. The study also showed that education, farming experience, household size, access to extension; access to credit, access to market and membership to farmer association were positively related to technical efficiency of sesame farmers. The result further showed that the average technical efficiency of sesame farmers was 0.53. The result also revealed that there is a significant negative relationship between the level of adverse effects of climate change manifestation and technical efficiency among sesame farmers in the study area. It was therefore recommended that readily available farming inputs and subsidies should be entrenched. Credit facility, extension services and good market access should be provided to farmers. Education, information and training of farmers to adapt to climate change by changing their farming practices such as bush burning, de-forestation, rain-fed agriculture and land tenure systems should be encouraged.

Assessment of an Invasive Weed “Maimaio” Commelina foecunda in the Sesame Fields of Western Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is probably the most ancient oilseed. It has multiple uses; it is used as a source of food and in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. The average yield of sesame in western Tigray is too low (about 400 kg/ha to 500 kg/ha) due to different factors, and weed infestation takes a lion’s share. More than 80 weed species were recorded and identified as weed pests for sesame in western Tigray. “Maimaio” Commelina foecunda is the most troublesome weed of sesame. The purpose of this study was to assess the distribution of C. foecunda and quantify its infestations. The survey was conducted in 24 sesame growing areas and 48 sesame farms from the three districts of western Tigray in the 2017 production season. The survey result showed that about 91.7% of the assessed sesame farms in western Tigray were found infested with C. foecunda. The weed frequently appeared in Kafta Humera. And, it occurred abundantly and closely in Kafta Humera, whereas it occurred poorly and irresolutely in Tsegede. Concentrated frequency, abundance, and density of the weed were recorded by large-scale sesame producers, lower growing altitudes, and early growth stage of sesame; whereas, it was limited in the small-scale farms, higher growing altitudes, and late growth stage of sesame.

Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for Climate Information Services: Evidence from Cowpea and Sesame Producers in Northern Burkina Faso

Climate information is recognized as a powerful tool to reduce the effect of climate risk and uncertainty on crop production and increase the resilience and the adaptive capacity of farmers in semi-arid zones. This paper estimates farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for climate information within cowpea and sesame value chains in Northern Burkina Faso. The study used the contingent valuation method for a monetary valuation of farmers’ preferences for climate information. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 170 farmers. The study found that 63% of respondents were willing to pay for climate information services (CIS) such as seasonal climate forecast (SCF), decadal climate information (10-DCI), daily climate information (1-DCI) and agro-advisories. The predicted value for the WTP was XOF 3496 for SCF, XOF 1066 for 10-DCI, XOF 1985 for 1-DCI and XOF 1628 for agro-advisories. The study also showed that several socioeconomic and motivation factors have greater influence on farmers’ WTP for CIS. These included the gender, age, education of the farm head and the awareness of farm head to climate information. The outcomes of this paper should support policy makers to better design an efficient mechanism for the dissemination of climate information to improve the adaptive capacity of farmers to climate risks in Burkina Faso.