SPICES, AROMATIC AND MEDICINAL PLANTS TRADE IN EASTERN ETHIOPIA.

This research was mainly carried out in the markets of Dire Dawa and Harar, in Eastern Ethiopia, partly in Jimma-Aggaro and Hossaina in South West and Central Ethiopia respectively.
The types, forms, origin, amount and price of spices, aromatic and medicinal plants or their parts offered in the markets of Dire Dawa and Harar are listed respectively.
In Dire Dawa, among 178 licensed merchants involved in the transaction of agricultural products, 14 persons, representing 7.8% were found to be exclusively engaged in spices/ aromatic and medicinals trade, while another 20, representing 8.9%, were envolved in spices/aromatics, food crops, and also ceramics trade.
Among these full-time spices merchants, 32 representing 94% were women. 50 different species of spices/aromatics and medicinals were marketed in Dire Dawa-Hara as compared with 24 in Jimma-Aggaro and 14 in Hossaina markets.
There has been a considerable price variation in the markets observed. 14% of the spices and aromatics found in the two eastern markets were found to be exotic- they were either imported or smuggeled from Asia or East African countries.

I International Symposium on Horticultural Economics in Developing Countries

W. Letchamo, H. Storck

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1991.270.29