The Ethiopian government has a package of encouraging youths to participate in small and micro agricultural enterprises by giving legal certificate for youths who were organized in-group to start the business by providing financial supports in terms of credit. However, youths are less willing to participate in agricultural enterprises. Even after being organized into groups and having supports from government, some of them were not starting the business and some were interrupting the business they have been organized. Due to these, huge amount of money from the government, which was allocated for this purpose, is not being used as expected. Therefore, this study was intended to assess factors affecting rural and peri-urban youth participation in agricultural enterprises in Bena-Tsemay and Debubi Ari woreda of south omo zone. Two-stage sampling technique was used to select 155 sample households. Logit model was used to analyze determinants of youth's participation in agricultural enterprises. The result of this study indicated that 32.3% respondents were participated and 67.7% were not participated in enterprises. Econometric results revealed that variables such as farm size, institutional capacity building, and weather road significantly affected youths’ participation in agricultural enterprises at 1% and 5% significance level. The study recommends that the provision of land for the agricultural enterprises should consider the size/type of the enterprises that youth are willingness to participate. The government should specify the institution/sector to enterprise type and consideration of all-weather roads for each enterprise type during organizing youth in different agricultural enterprises is important. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 12(1): 84-93, June 2022

Sesame is the main cash crop in Ethiopia and it is mainly produced in northern and southern part of the country especially South Omo Zone. In the zone sesame is highly produced, but it production is not known regionally and at a country level. So this study was aimed to research sesame value chain of the Zone. Simple descriptive statistics and value chain approach were employed for data analysis during this study. It attempts to deal with mapping and identifying sesame value chain actors and their roles, examines marketing channel, cost margin structure and assessing challenges and opportunities within the study area. The results of the study indicated that out 5589.3 quintals were supplied to markets for various actors and five alternative marketing channels were identified to transact the sesame product through intermediaries. The most important volume of sesame (4900.8 quintals) was marketed through channel V and the lowest volume in channel I. producers get the highest share in channel IV and the lowest in channel II. Barriers to entry traders into the market are that the capital requirement and therefore the wholesalers govern by volume transacted and internal control criteria within the market. Fertile land and high demand for the product were essential opportunity. Pests and disease, Low level of input utilization, Shortage of input supply and high price of inputs were the challenges of sesame production whereas lack of market information, price variability, delay of buyers, low bargaining power and poor product quality were the challenges sesame marketing.

Korarima is a known cash crop in the South Omo zone and provides a wide range of economic and sociocultural benefits. Even though its economic and socio-cultural importance the development of the Korarima sector along with the value chain is hampered by several constraints. Hence, the study aimed to analyze the Korarima value chain in the South Omo zone. Using a two-stage sampling technique, 120 Kororima producers were selected to collect primary data through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and econometrics model (multivariate probit model) were used for data analysis. The study identified three major Korarima market outlet choices such as collectors, retailers, and wholesalers as alternatives to Korarima producers to sell the majority of their products. Thus, collectors accounted for 82.2%, wholesalers (73.6%), and retailers (35.5%) of the total sold. The results of a multivariate probit model indicated that sex of household, credit access, family size, price information, market distance, and extension contact of farmers significantly affected the market outlet choice decisions in one or another way. Furthermore, no brand indicating this crop, inadequate infrastructural development, and market accessibility, weak extension services regarding improved varieties were major problems identified. Therefore, it is better to work on the brand name of this particular crop to trace up to the end market, infrastructural development and market accessibility, extension services provided regarding the improved Korarima variety, and accessing formal market information from the concerned body are essential to enhance Korarima producers’ benefit and bargaining power through avoiding information asymmetry.

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