Spice and Medicinal Plants Production and Value Chain Analysis from South-West Ethiopia

Abstract

Non Timber Forest Products like coffee, honey and spices, form an important part of livelihood strategies of the people in South-West Ethiopia. In addition, they can be an incentive to leave the forest intact instead of cutting down trees for agriculture. This study tries to fill some of the gaps in the information on marketing opportunities and constraints for spices that grow in the area, specifically for Ethiopian cardamom, Ethiopian long pepper, Indian cardamom and black pepper. From the interviewed 70 farmers in the seven kebeles of the study area 41 were trial farmers and 29 did not participate in the spice trials. 54 men and 16 women were interviewed. A number of traders in the spice value chains were interviewed in order to obtain information on spice production, trade and potential markets. The results show a mixed image on marketing opportunities for spices. The main spices produced and collected by the households interviewed during this study were: Ethiopian cardamom, rue, basil, birdseye chili, chili pepper, garlic, onion, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, timiz and cardamom. Few produced coriander, cinnamon, cumin, mint, thyme and lemon grass. About 38.57% (27) were involved in wild spice collection (all Ethiopian cardamom). About 66.67% (18) wild spice collectors were also cultivating cardamom. Regarding the marketing of spices, farmers and traders face low prices, difficulty finding markets, long transport distances, a lack of capital for transport and extending production, a lack of market information and small volumes to sell. Keywords: - Black pepper, Ethiopian cardamom, Ethiopian long pepper, Indian cardamom and Spices