Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) in collaboration with Benefit-SBN organised a high-level consultative meeting on the major challenges facing the sesame sub-agricultural sector on the 30^th of December 2019 at Bahir Dar.

In attendance were over 35 officials including HE Mr. Melaku Alebel, Head of the Amhara Region Industry and Investment Bureau with the rank of vice president for the regional administration, Dr. Meles Mekonnen head of Amhara Region Bureau of Agriculture (BoA), Dr. Tilaye Teklwold, ARARI director and other officials from the regional bureaus.

Participants discussed the challenges of the sesame sub-sector related to research and extension, seed and agro-inputs, mechanisation, investor farmers performance and input finance. The experience and challenges on bottom up planning- kebele agro-economic planning and marketing credit through risk sharing modalities were also shared and discussed during the meeting.

The meeting was successful in providing directions to the different regional level stakeholders.  Accordingly, preparation of a strategic plan/document to deal with research and extension related issues; organising thematic meeting for commercial farmers regarding their performance and the challenges; organising a platform for financial institutions to deal with input finance, marketing credit and lease financing challenges are among the directions given to BoA, ARARI, Investment, land administration bureaus and financial organisations.

To meet the seed demand, Amhara Region Quality Seed Enterprise will multiply sesame and avail enough amount for 2021. The enterprise has currently ample quality seed of soy bean and it can supply it to those who demand it. It is also indicated that the seed enterprise need to work hand in hand with the regional research institute in the production of quality seed and meet the demand of the low land areas.

During the meeting participants underscored the importance of pursuing bottom-up planning and stakeholders collaboration at the kebele level as this help to meet the input finance and other challenges. It was suggested that BoA and ACSI need to take the responsibility of organizing kebele-level agro-economic planning.

It was also suggested that to have a multi-stakeholder meeting in a quarterly base and evaluate the progress of different activities.