Marketing practices and challenges of Mung Bean in Ethiopia Amhara Regional State: North Shewa Zone in focus

Abstract

Mung beans are grown widely for use as a human food (as dry beans or fresh sprouts), but can be used as a green manure crop and as forage for livestock. This study assessed the marketing practice and challenges of Mung bean in the Amhara Region, North Shewa Zone. Descriptive analysis techniques were used for conducting this research. From the nine selected districts, 1,350 producers, 115 traders and 10 experts/professionals were taken as a sample using convenience sampling techniques. The interviewer administered questionaire and field observations were employed for the fruit of this study. The finding showed that, although the North Shewa Zone has prospected potential in producing Mung bean and supplied to Ethiopia commodity exchange market, currently its production amount is low due to production and marketing challenges. The unpredictable rainfall, prevalence of pests and diseases, lack of input supply and development, and lack of proper storage and handling were among the identified production challenges. On the other hand, it is identified that low level of local consumption, inappropriate market chain, lack of market information, price impulsiveness, lack of stakeholder's commitment, limited market promotion and lack of finance were major marketing problems for Mung bean products. In line with this, season and quality were the main determining factors of the price of the product. Lower bargaining power of producers relative to traders makes them to earn less out of it.

Scoping study on Ethiopian sesame value chain

“…Similarly, mung bean is highly preferred to sesame due to its shorter growing period, low input requirement, and high market demand (Mohammed et al, 2017).…”

Scaling up of improved mung bean technology in the potential areas of North Shewa Zone Amhara Region

“…Hence, producer farmers were sold out the whole produce immediately after harvesting. Farmers sell 75 to 80% of their marketable surplus immediately after harvesting their product (Mohammed et al, 2017). However, it was observed that the market price during harvesting seasons was very low.…”

“…Farmers have also suffered from a lack of access to improved seed, low market price during harvesting and price fluctuation across traders and time, and postharvest loss due to weevils. Similarly, (Mohammed et al, 2017;Yehuala et al, 2018) mentioned the prevalence of pests and disease, lack of improved seed supply, lack of proper storage and handling, and inappropriate market chain (poor coordination among traders, extended market chain, lack of market information, price impulsiveness, lack of market promotion).…”

Market Chain for Cereal and Pulse Crops in North Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

“…So, different theoretical literatures and practical works indicate having efficient domestic agricultural commodity marketing system plays a major role in accelerating the growth and development of the agriculture sector. Besides, it makes the participants in the market chain such as producers, traders and consumers' beneficiary as per their role and efforts exerted in the system (Mohammed, et, al., 2015).…”

“…Undeveloped and unorganized marketing system have several economic problems, such as it may lead an inflationary and disinflationary environment, low return for producer, loss of foreign currency by exporting less of the commodity low capital formation and low investment of farmers. (Muhammed et al, 2015).…”