Value Chain Analysis of WARQE Food Products in Ethiopia

This article is all about to analyse the value chain of warqe (Ensete ventricosum (Welw) Cheesman) food products in Ethiopia. For this, two survey studies were conducted between 2013 and 2015. Theory of value chain approach was employed to analyse the value chain. The study mapped the value chain of kocho and bulla. The result indicated that warqe growing farmers, collectors, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers are principal value chain actors. Weak product and information flow were observed among value chain actors within and across different levels of the chain. Moreover, the performance of kocho value chain was not efficient since farmers did not get a better share of the of consumers’ price. Farmers generated the most added values in the chain but only gained a small share of profit (27 %). However, there are opportunities for further upgrading the value chain performance of these foods. Thus, the findings of the present study suggest that the role of the farmers and bulla processors could be supported by providing credit, developing and supplying improved warqe varieties, extension services, market facilities and market information. While this paper focuses on value chain analysis of warqe foods, the information could apply to other traditional food products.