Assessment of Value Chain of Sericulture Products in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Transcription

1 Int. J. Environ. Eng. Nat. Resour. Volume 1, Number 2, 2014, pp Received: June 29, 2014; Published: August 30, 2014 International Journal of Environmental Engineering and Natural Resources Assessment of Value Chain of Sericulture Products in Amhara Region, Ethiopia Assemu Tesfa, Kerealem Ejigu, Aseresu Yetayew and Habtemariam Assefa Andassa Livestock Research Center, P.O. Box 27, Andassa, West Gojjam, Ethiopia Corresponding author: Assemu Tesfa Abstract: The study was conducted during 2011 with the objective of assessing the value chain of sericulture products in Amhara region. The primary data were collected by semi structured questionnaires, checklists, group discussions and field observation. Secondary data was collected through reviewing published and unpublished papers. Snow ball interviewing technique and rapid market appraisal were implemented to gather the required data from the appropriate actors. The result of this study revealed that sericulture in the region was started in 2004 with the main objective of assuring food security in rain scarce woreda s of the region. Eri type (Philosamiyarecini) silk worms, which are dependent on caster plantation as feed source, were adapted better in the region. As the interview result indicated, producers harvest an average of 9.16 kilogram of cocoon in one production round. In the region three sericulture product marketing channels (from producer to processor) were identified. Sericulture producers sold the cocoon with 31 ± 4.51 and 36 ± 7.09 ETH birr to government organization and processing enterprises, respectively. Producers indicate that the main problems that cease the technology from further distribution were absence of market (40%), and lack of land for feed, plant development and building of rearing houses (33.3%). ATVET college experts indicate lack of skills and knowledge on modern silkworm rearing methods and poor technology approach as the main constraints for sericulture production. Marketing channels those create direct linkage between the producer and processor should get emphasis to make the regional sericulture market mature and profitable. Key words: Amhara region, bombyxmori, cocoon, eri type, sericulture, value chain. 1. Introduction Sericulture is an agro-based industry. It involves rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk, which is the yarn obtained out of cocoons spun by certain species of insects. The major activities of sericulture comprises of food-plant cultivation to feed the silkworms which spin silk cocoons and reeling the cocoons for unwinding the silk filament for value added benefits such as processing and weaving [1]. Silkworm production has advantages like; high employment potential, provision of vibrancy to village economics, low gestation, high returns, women friendly occupation, ideal program for weaker sections of the society, eco-friendly activity, and the satisfaction of equity concerns [2, 3]. Although cotton, coffee, and tea have been exported traditionally, agriculture in the countries of East Africa mainly consists of subsistence farming. However horticulture products, such as flowers and ornamental plants, and vegetables, have rapidly increased in recent years as non-traditional export products. Expectations are also high for sericulture as a new non-traditional export product which can contribute to the improvement in the income of farmers, including small-scale farmers and farmers in frontier areas [4] and the plantations used as a feed of the silkworms uses in natural resources conservation [5]. The most important benefit of sericulture is that it can be practiced on small to medium sized land

2 62 Assessment of Value Chain of Sericulture Products in Amhara Region, Ethiopia holdings in rural areas, either as a subsidiary or main occupation. In this regard sericulture can be one of the income generating activities for rural communities in Amhara region. Sericulture is new agro business technology for Amhara region and also for Ethiopia that had been targeted as a tool for poverty reduction [6]. That is why, in most of the region the sector is at infant stage that requires focusing on both biological and physiological aspects. Since the sector has been untapped and lagged behind, research will be thoroughly conducted and hence fill the gaps existed. Therefore, to promote sericulture production and to enhance income generation from the sector, assessing production and marketing constraints and market linkage between producers and textiles has to be conducted; and this study had been designed to answer these problems through the following main objectives. To assess the performances of sericulture production systems; To assess the status, opportunities and constraints of sericulture production systems; To assess the marketing channel and constraints and opportunities of sericulture marketing. 2. Material and Methods Information was collected from both primary and secondary sources. To assess the production system of sericulture, the study focused from inputs of the production up to production management using backward and forward interviewing techniques. As the direct actors on the production system are not well known, snow ball interviewing and rapid market appraisal techniques were used to select the appropriate actors in sericulture production and marketing channel (producers, traders and processers). Farmer selection was made purposively based on their participation on silk worm production in coordination with experts of woreda agricultural and rural development and Small and Microfinance offices. Marketing study was conducted from the farm get up to the end user (the processor) of the product across the value chain. To accomplish the assessment, a focused group discussion with three zonal and four Woreda experts from both agriculture and small and microfinance offices and four Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) College instructors based on predesigned checklists was made. Since farmers involved in the sector are not accessible, well registered and sustainable in the work, seven accessible and better farmers on the work were selected and used for the assessment. Secondary data were collected through reviewing different documents and studies from Bureau of Agriculture (BoA), NGO s and funding organizations like Rural Capacity Building Projects (RCBP), Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organizations (JeCCDO), and Bureau of Small and Microfinance Enterprise (BoSME). To collect the data, developed semi structured questionnaire, checklist and field observations were used. The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics of SPSS version 16 [7]. 3. Results and Discussion 3.1 Start of Sericulture Practice The result collected from both producers and experts show that silk worm production in Amhara region was at infant stage and was started in middle of Sericulture practice in the region was reared by elders, women and youth at urban and per-urban areas, ATEVT colleges and NGOs like Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO). Small and microfinance bureau and agriculture bureau take the responsibility to start and manage the work. The main reason of starting the work in the region was to assure food security in rain scarcity areas/woredas of the region where rainfall is scarce on which the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development state the expansion of silkworm (sericulture) production would help ensure food

3 Assessment of Value Chain of Sericulture Products in Amhara Region, Ethiopia 63 security across the country [6]. Rural Capacity Building Project (RCBP) provides initial budget for both farmer producers and ATVET Colleges those start the work. The budget was mainly targeted to build rearing houses and purchasing of working materials. Expert of Small and microfinance at Gubalafto woreda indicates, Ethiopian Commercial Bank, revolving fund of different projects and food security project also provides budget to run the work. The budget was in terms of loan. Previously 3,000 and now 5,000 Ethiopian (ETH) birr (up to the work ceases) was the amount of the loan allowed per head with prepared business plan with 7.25% interest rate for the term of three years. One year after the implementation of silkworm production in the region, different stakeholders were organized and design their contribution on the technology and prepare a five year ( ) business plan on silk worm production in March Some of the stockholders were Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bureau of Education and TVET commission, Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Bahir Dar University, and Small and Micro finance office. But, it was strongly discussed with bureau, zonal and woreda experts that the main limiting factor for the failure of the technology is the inability of these bureaus and offices to accomplish their tasks and responsibilities. While the work had been started, 10 experts from research centers, BoSMF and BoA get short term training in Korea. Those trained persons (trainees) train experts collected from different selected woredas of the region for 10 to 15days; and these trained experts train farmer producers for average of five days before starting the work. ATVET colleges like Woreta and Kombolcha were theoretical and practical training centers to train both trainees and trainers. 3.2 Purpose of Starting Silkworm Production As farmers and cooperative producers indicate, they start the work to get additional income to support their Table 1 Number of students graduated at ATVET Colleges and number of woredas getting silkworm from ATVET Colleges. ATVET Number of colleges graduates Number of woredas Bure 100 For West Gojjam zone Kombolcha 6 round graduates 3 woredas of North Wollo, Mersa Woreta 215 Total 1,275 (average 80)=480 6 round graduates (average 80)=480 and Oromia zones 6 woredas of South Wollo, Waghimera zones 13 woredas of South and North Gondar, East and West Gojjam zones 22 woredas of 8 zones of the region life from the work alone and by coordinate with poultry production (egg production). Metaferia and Abera [1, 11] agreed as pupae from cut cocoons are found to be useful to feed poultry and fish and the waste of silkworm larvae will be used as farmyard manure. All Agricultural colleges initiate the work for educational and promotion purpose (Table 1). They addressed the course as a single chapter for natural resource diploma graduates to enable them to create their own job, and assist producer farmers in the area. 3.3 Source of Silkworm Seeds Agriculture bureau (57.1%) and Small and Microfinance (42.9%) were the intermediates to deliver and cascade the seed from Melkassa Agricultural Research Center (MARC), and Alagie ATVET College to producers of the region. TVET commission cascade the seed from the same source to their agricultural colleges. ATVET colleges also play a great role for multiplying and distributing the seed for users living around them and for other willing woredas. Saba har handmade Ethiopians silk introduces better performing silkworm seeds from India and distribute to Melkassa Agriculture Research Center and other producing organizations for further multiplication and distribution. 3.4 Management Practices

4 64 Assessment of Value Chain of Sericulture Products in Amhara Region, Ethiopia Housing Producers (71.4%) have no separated rearing house for silk worms; they use a part of their own house (57.1%) and some on dormitories (14.3%) constructed in their homestead. One farmer and one cooperative (Veterans) producer have built their own separated rearing house from woody wall and thatch/grass roof and woody wall and corrugated iron roof, respectively. In areas where Rural Capacity Building Project (RCBP) was working with, the technology was done in well-constructed house (woody wall and corrugated iron roof) by the projects fund (Fig. 1a). In Kombolcha ATVET College there is well facilitate (including reeling materials) separately constructed silkworm rearing house (Fig. 1b). Woreta, Burea and Mersa ATVET colleges use students class, dormitory and cafeteria, respectively, as rearing house. In all colleges, the rearing house is constructed from Cement sealed wall, concrete (asphalt) floor and corrugated iron roof Feeds and Feeding Sericulture in the region was started mainly by Eri types which were highly dependent on caster plantation as feed source. Mulberry plantation is highly grown across the study areas of the region to feed Bombyxmori breeds; but it is not yet used because the seed of mulberry feeder (Bombyxmori) was not well gone and adapted in the region (Fig. 2). a b Fig. 1 (a) Cooperative silkworm producers rearing house (Addis Zemen) and (b) ATVET college silkworm rearing house (Kombolcha). a b Fig. 2 Feed development: (a) mulberry plantation at Woreta college horticulture farm and (b) castor plantation at farmers garden.

5 Assessment of Value Chain of Sericulture Products in Amhara Region, Ethiopia 65 As respondents indicate, feeding for all growth stage (instar level) was performed in separate. Different leaf growth stages were feed accordingly as the instar level; the softest part of the leaf was fed for the first and second instar and the harsh (well developed) part of the leaf for 4 th and 5 th instars. Eri type breeds have high feed intake ability and they feed 3-5 times a day, as producers respond. As respondents indicate they feed silkworms by cutting individual leaves and by collecting the leaves with their branches Disease and Temperature The survey result reveals that in all areas of the region there was no adverse health problem related with silkworm production. To avoid any disease and contamination, all producers and ATVET colleges clean those utensils used for production, rearing house and silkworms in all growth stage. In Burea ATVET College, there is a footbath to prevent further disease and/or contamination. However, farmer producer s (28.6%) indicate that rats and birds were the main predators attacking the worms. In all areas where the assessment was addressed, there is production seasonality that limits the ability of the silk worm to produce cocoon. As farmer producers indicate, in hot and cold areas of the region, October to May and November to the entrance of rain (May) was the better production seasons, respectively. In extremes of the temperature (too hot and cold) the worms ceases to feed, death occur ended lowers production and productivity. When the temperature is too cold, the worms cease feeding by this the growth stage delayed and production of cocoon takes longer time. To control this coldness and to maintain normal production temperature, farmers use a charcoal fire and producers having electric access also use electric lamb and ATVET College use charcoal fire and electric lamp to heat the rearing room. When the temperature is too hot, the worms, like that of coldness, cease to feed, become restless and heavy to manage and finally die. To control this both farmers and ATVET colleges provide aeration through windows, and spraying water in the floor. In the region, both extremities don t have adverse effect on the production as the result of the study shows. College instructors and silkworm experts working in the college indicate the merits and demerits of both Eri (Philosamiyarecini) and Bombyxmori breeds from their experience. Their idea is summarized in Table Responsible Persons The result of the survey revealed that farmer producers have better educational level (85.7% grade five and above complete and the remaining 14.3% was illiterate) which make them to better grasp and apply trainings to practice. At farmer s condition silkworm production activities were performed by all members of the family (71.4%), husband and wife (14.3%) and wife and children (14.3%). Rearing house cleaning, feed collection, silkworm cleaning and feeding, cocoon Table 2 Breed types and their merits and demerits (discussion result with experts). Breed type Merits Demerits Eri silkworm Bombyxmori Common advantages Easily handled/managed worms Withstand hardship environment, and better disease tolerant Have shorter generation interval, better productive Fractured threads can be easily assembled together Their feed is easily adaptive and available in all areas of the region Quality cocoon can be produced if they are well managed Less feed intake Reelable cocoon is produced Better know in all countries (internationally known) Better cost of the cocoon Low quality cocoon High feed intake ability Cheap Cocoon price Need more management Have longer generation interval; less productive Are more susceptible to poor management, and disease Can t assembled the thread if it is once fractured The wastage from the larvae of both breedsbefore starting to make cocoon is used as a fertilizer Surplus and unproductive wormsof both breeds can be used for poultry feed to increase poultry production (egg production)

6 66 Assessment of Value Chain of Sericulture Products in Amhara Region, Ethiopia collection and drying, selling of the product were activities performed by the member of the family. Even if it is not satisfying, experts from Agricultural and Small and microfinance office support, and evaluate the rearing activities done at farmer s level. In Mersa ATVET College, permanent workers (technical assistances) working at different division of the college manipulates the rearing activity in rotation; which challenges the sector to raise skilled man power, as the expert of the college indicates. In Kombolcha, Woreta and Burea ATVET colleges, there are permanent workers those run all activities. Additionally, in all colleges there are higher professionals/instructors those manage, control and evaluate the work. 3.6 Cocoon Production Farmer respondents of 57.1, 28.6 and 14.3% indicate that they produce silkworms for four, two and one round, respectively. The result shows that in one production round they produce kg of cocoon with minimum and maximum of 2 kg and 25 kg, respectively. The survey result also indicates that those producers of cocoon sell ETH birr with a minimum and maximum sell of 58 and 1180 ETH birr, respectively in their production time. A single producer (14.3%) at Debre Markos town indicates as she get additional 5000 ETH birr from cocoon seed sales (two ETH birr per cocoon seed). 3.7 Sericulture Marketing Sericulture marketing in the region had almost the characteristics of monoposony market situation. In this type of market situation there is only one purchaser in the market which makes producers to be price taker. There is no competition in the market which reveals poor performance of cocoon market [8, 9]. Through the assessment, cocoons which are not marketed or reeled (for further use) on both producers and ATVET colleges were observed. The main reason that makes them not to sell the cocoons, as they indicate, was absence of market information and loss relationship between agriculture and rural development and small and microfinance office with producers. Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO) had reeled cocoons that are not marketed because of absence of market information Silk Worm Cocoon Purchasers and Price Sericulture product is cocoon, which is raw material for processing of silk [1]. The survey result shows that there were two type of cocoon price depending on the purchasers scale. The first and the better price was Sabahar handmade Ethiopian silk price which was 36 ± 7.09 ETH birr per kilogram. The second price type was the one that is made by small and microfinance and by agriculture offices and the price was 31 ± 4.51 ETH birr per kilogram. A single farmer in DebreMarkos town sold silk worm seeds to other producers with 2 ETH birr per worm. There were a few actors in cocoon market. Sabahar enterprise at Addis Ababa and one exporter abroad (namely Mr. Josef Matika) were silkworm cocoon purchasers both in the region and the country; and these persons were also price determinants for the product. Sabahar handmade Ethiopian silk is solely enterprise which export finished silk product to abroad market Sericulture Market Channels in the Region In Amhara region, three sericulture marketing were identified; 1 st. Producer-Processor 2 nd. Producer-SME-Processor 3 rd. Producer-Cooperative-SME-Processor As the survey result reveals, there were no merchant agents (retailers and wholesalers ) in the cocoon market as a result product collection was done by small and microenterprise and cooperatives. The report of Leigh [10] and Nguyen [11] indicated the same sericulture marking channel. The second and

7 Assessment of Value Chain of Sericulture Products in Amhara Region, Ethiopia 67 third channels were dominant in the region but it was weak and inefficient. And they have no acceptance by the producers because bargaining for price set is done via SME which is not participatory for producer farmers. While the first market channel was accomplished in two ways, and have great acceptance by producers; in the first producers were delivered cocoons at Addis Ababa to Sabahar handmade Ethiopian silk and the second was the enterprise collect cocoons at farm gate. The former were done by few producers due to high marketing cost, whereas, the later was not done at Amhara region because of limited amount of products to fulfill the required (200kg per tour) quantity. 3.8 Constraints Limiting the Work Farmer Producers Farmer producers list absence of market both information and price (40%) and lack of land (33.3%) for feed development and rearing house construction as the main constraints those limit the work from further expansion. They also indicate lack of labour, lack of silkworm and feed seed (26.7%), as related constraints ATVET Colleges and Woreda Experts ATVET College and woreda expert respondents rank lack of skill and knowledge on modern silkworm rearing methods in the first line. They describe that for sustainable production and productivity of silkworms, producers must have better skill and knowledge on the technology. Lack of silkworm seeds mainly Bombyxmoriwas listed in the second line as a problem; this in line with the report of IPMS [8]. This is because mulberry plantation is widely distributed and grows well in every areas of the region. So as to better use of this plantation, Bombyxmori seeds must be introduced and developed as that of castor feeder (Philosamiyarecini). Absence of matured market chain was the third problem. Poor technology approach and lack of budget and absence of working manuals and guidance were problems listed in the bottom line. 2.9 Futurity and Opportunities of the Technology The work of this technology can be done in coordination with other livestock and bio fuel activities. Farmer producers integrate silkworm production with poultry production in that, they feed dead and over produced worms (rich in protein) for poultry. The seed of castor is used for bio fuel production, and further expansion of sericulture is integrated with this technology and is better sustainable. As minister of agriculture indicates, for sustainability of silkworm production in Ethiopia, a processing plant with a processing ability of kg cocoon per day is going to be built at Alagie ATVET College with 100,000 dollar and this will alleviate the constraint listed in IPMS [8]. The main objective of the plant is to be a training center in Ethiopia and to create additional income to the college. Additionally, the minister also indicates that sericulture production had been designed to be addressed in university as Moriculture, Silk production and Post-harvest courses. The minister also indicates that the technology will be effective if it had been done in cluster; with advantages like to create better market channel, and for better follow up of producers and giving technical and practical advices. It also indicated that producer selection had been given due attention for sustainability. A criterion s like land for feed development, rearing house, proximity to market centers and safe to follow up, better educated farmer s, and others were indicated by the minister. In the region, after the survey has been conducted, the following major opportunities had been identified and summarized as follow. Better environment and productive land to raise feed resources for silkworm production. ATVET College in the region graduates better skilled and knowledgeable students having the ability

8 68 Assessment of Value Chain of Sericulture Products in Amhara Region, Ethiopia to assist silk worm producers in the vicinity they join their life. Farmers those start the work before have better understanding to start and/or continue the work. All governmental and non-governmental sectors working in the region have better understanding on the technology. The regional government develops as agenda for poverty reduction. In the GTP it is design to increase cocoon production from 3.77 to 11.6 tones (> 300%). High demand by Sabahar handmade Ethiopian silk and willingness to involve in sericulture marketing channel of Amhara region. 4. Conclusion and Recommendation Sericulture production in Amhara region has well immersed in all areas including the remote rural areas through media s, trainings, and other informal and formal ways of communication. This awareness through all areas was a great chance to easily disseminate the technology. The production system requires a great follow up and care in each and every level of production which exerts its impact on the technology and production. Silk worm production was gone as a simple activity in that there was no monitoring and evaluation techniques towards the technology implementation and there is no efficiency measure for those experts running the activity. In sericulture production system of the region, the production has made without the understanding of the market direction and the real purchasers and it is why many kilograms of cocoons were found in producers hand. Scheduled sericulture production program considering the market chain will benefit cocoon producers and this approach must be implemented to make the technology effective and efficient. Therefore, to start and continue the work in a sustainable manner the following points are strongly recommended. Skill training and technical back up for producers and experts is essential. Both silkworm and feed plant seeds development and multiplication centers must be developed in the region. The technology had better been budgeted lonely. Strengthening linkage and partnership among stakeholders. Scheduled monitoring and evaluation system towards the technology implementation must be designed and routinely implemented. Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to Ato Ababu for his involvement in selection. of representative zones, woredas and ATVET Colleges The authors also would like to thank zonal and woreda s agricultural and small and microfinance experts and ATVET college instructors for their honest delivery of information during data collection. The authors also extend their gratitude to the participant silkworm producers those providing us relevant information during data collection and field observation. We would also thank Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) for funding sericulture research activities in the region. References [1] M. Habthyimer, A. Deressa, Sericulture: A training manual, Ethiopian Agriculture Research Center (EARO), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, [2] M. Habthyimer, K. Shifa, A. Tamiru, Performance of silkworm races and promotion of silk production under Ethiopian condition, Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, Nazareth, Ethiopia, [3] [Online] [4] Japan Association for International Collaboration of Agriculture, JAICAF Sericulture in East Africa, Minato-ku, Tokyo, , Japan, March, [5] D. Gamble, Silk production by rural women in dodota woreda, Ethiopia, Powering Economic Opportunity: Create a World that Works, [6] Herald: The Ethiopian Herald, Expansion of Sericulture Described Vital in Poverty Reduction, Ethiopia, [7] SPSS for windows, Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), Release 16.0, The Apasche software foundation, [8] Improving Productivity and Market System (IPMS),

9 Assessment of Value Chain of Sericulture Products in Amhara Region, Ethiopia 69 Annex 1 Development context IPMS Ethiopian Farmers Project Part 1 Market oriented Development Master Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, [9] K.V. Raju, M. Harekrishna, Value Chain Management in Sericulture Enterprises, [10] L. Richards, Different Types of Market Systems, Hearst Communications, Inc. Demand Media, [11] N.T. Thanh, Value Chain Analysis for Sericulture Sub-sector in QuangBinh province, Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Central Vietnam, 2006.