Trends in Production and Export of Gesho/Rhamnus Prinoids/ in Ethiopia

Abstract

Gesho is a multipurpose crop as its all parts harvested and utilized. The study was conducted to analyze the trend of production and export of gesho in Ethiopia. Secondary data on production and export of gesho were used. The study identify the total hectare of land under gesho production and the total volume of production has increased with a compound growth rate of 3% and 4% respectively during the study period; while the productivity of the crop gesho has shown no change during the same period. Ethiopia exports on average 371,091 kg of gesho and gesho products to various countries  and incurred birr 8,250,427.  Israel, Burundi, Hong Kong, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Swaziland, Great Britain, United States, United Arab Emirates, Djibouti, Iceland, Albania, Canada, Greece, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Australia, Switherland, Norway and China are countries Ethiopian gesho and gesho products are destined during the study period. Israel and Sudan are the highest volume recipient countries for Ethiopian gesho and gesho products with the percentage share of 22 % and 72 % respectively. The total volume of export destined to Sudan during the study period is 5, 354, 567 kg and the total volume exported to the second large recipient country Israel has been 1,627,631 kg.  Great Bretain, Hong kong and Norway are the destination countries from which highest value/kg from gesho export is received. Ethiopia earn birr 322/kg and birr 304/kg from export of gesho to Great Britain and Hong kong respectively. The export value of 1kg of gesho per kg for export destined to largest recipient country of Ethiopian gesho export- Sudan is birr 24.