Selam farmers' Cooperatives Union in Tach Armacheho Woreda of North Gondar Zone, Amhara State said it has earned over USD 1.1 million from export of sesame in the current Ethiopian Fiscal Year.

Speaking at the Union's annual general assembly over the weekend, Union Board Chairperson Hagos Asfaw said that the cooperative union manged to export over 6000 quintals sesame to China. He said the regional government provided 30 million Ethiopian Birr loan to the Union for purchasing sesame. Hagos also said activities are underway to establish a sesame processing plant through support of the government and NGOs.

The cooperative union projected to earn USD 8 million from export of over 50,000 quintals sesame to Far Eastern countries in the coming Ethiopian year. The Union is also supplying agricultural inputs and different commodities to member cooperatives. So far it has distributed 80,000 quintals of fertilizers and over three million Birr worth sugar and edible oil among members and farmers, according to Hagos.

Selam farmers' Cooperatives Union was established five years ago, currently the Union has over 7000 members and over seven million Birr capital.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency