Abstract

Sesame post-harvest loss and its determinants in Kafta Humera, Ethiopia of cross-sectional data were obtained from interviewing 128 producers and measurement at 56 fields. The loss found were at harvesting (16.41%), drying (50.44%), un-threshed (11.55%), piles transportation (9.9%), storage (6.73%), cleaning (3.2%), and leads total loss of 23.7% (4260 Birr/ton). The significant determinants of sesame post-harvest loss found were sesame produced, weather, transportation mode, piles transported distance, stacking days, educational level, farm distance, land size, and extension contact. This study so recommends strengthening education, extension, credit, nearby follow up, and frequently visit for reducing sesame post-harvest loss. Introduction of sesame harvesting and drying technologies and machineries are also better in reducing sesame post-harvest losses.

Key words: Kafta Humera, sesame, small-scale, post-harvest loss.