Assessment of Value Chain Management of Sesame in Pwint Phyu Township, Magway Region, Myanmar

Abstract

Sesame is economically important for producing edible oil and export crops in Myanmar. Empirical research on the sesame value chain is becoming necessary. This study investigated the market performance of 100 sesame stakeholders along the value chain in Myanmar. Interviews with 100 sesame stakeholders along the chain were performed. The results indicated that most of the farmers grew the black sesame (Sahmon Nat) variety because of the higher price and the higher market demand from stakeholders, which increase the marketing margin. Most sesame products flowed to wholesalers and Chinese commission agents in Mandalay, who traded them directly to cross-border exporters to China. Exporters in Yangon traded raw products to Japan and Taiwan and roasted sesame powder to Korea via the Yangon port as normal trade. However, the sesame value chain was very weak in Myanmar because of the unequal marking margin among actors, which was caused by the farmers’ lack of negotiation power with other actors along the chain. Among the discovered constraints, the low quality of product and the lack of advanced facilities and technologies were ranked as the major constraints. Therefore, public and private investments should be raised in this sector not only to overcome the major constraints but also to produce international standard-quality seed.

Keywords: key words, Value Chain, sesame, cost, profit and margin, constraints

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-12-13

Publication date:June 30^th 2019