Review of Haricot bean Value Chain in Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper has reviewed the haricot bean value chain particularly the case of Ethiopia.  Haricot beans are among the most important grain legumes produced by small-scale farmers for both subsistence and cash, mainly in the lowlands and in the rift valley areas of Ethiopia. They are high in starch, protein, and dietary fiber, and are an excellent source of minerals and vitamins. Given the importance of beans, it is necessary to understand what the situation of the bean sub-sector in the country is in terms of production, marketing and consumption and also map the different actors in the bean value chain. The bean value chain consists of input suppliers, producers, traders, brokers, exporters and consumers. The major haricot bean producing regions in Ethiopia are Oromia, SNNPR, Amhara and Benshangul Gumuz which contribute more than 99% of total haricot bean output. In 2014/15 agricultural production , Oromia took the lion share (51%) of haricot bean production in the country, followed by SNNPR (27%), Amhara (20%) Benishangul-Gumuz 1.4% and the other regions contributing rest to the country total production. Haricot bean exports account for about 41 percent of pulse production and exports from 2005 to 2014. Its contribution to national export earnings was 134 million USD in 2014. The value chain however, remains underdeveloped. Due to various constraints such as the limited access to improved seeds , low volumes, poor product quality  , scattered and fragmented suppliers, high transaction costs and long market channels are among others.

Keywords: Haricot bean value chain, actors, supporters and enabling environments