The standard  will go a long  way  in addressing the information and Knowledge gap on sesame production and if fully Implemented  will  enable  trade  in high  quality sesame both on the local and international market.
Cyprian Batala the Commissioner for International Trade in the Ministry of Trade Industries and Cooperatives said having such a standard will enable many Ugandan agro -dealers access the international market since Sesame is on high demand globally.
“With the standard in place many Ugandan traders will penetrate the international market. As a ministry we have been receiving complaints  about the quality of our product and now we are glad that the standard is in place.” The commissioner said during the  launch of the standard in Kampala.
The commissioner advised traders to exploit the available opportunities which the government has created to expand their agro –related businesses. Batala noted that government has developed trade policies which can facilitate trade both locally and internationally.
Some of the policies which  the government  has developed include the One Village one product,  Buy Uganda  Build Uganda, National  Standadard  and Quality policy among other policies in Uganda. However for such policies have conomic value to the  country , traders are advised to embrace value addition instead of exporting unprocessed produce.
Benon  Manyindo the Executive Director UNBS  said the bureau is committed to support business Communities in the country by developing standards for the various products  made in Uganda. He said  setting up the standard  will not only support enterprise development but also  protect Ugandans from  consuming substandard products.
Sesame is one of the  upcoming  nontraditional exports in Uganda  that is enjoying  increasing  demand on the regional  and global  markets. According to Jane Nalunga the  Country Director SEATINI  the crop’s contribution to the country’s export  has risen  more  than  300% since 2010 rising  to a value of $55 Million in2014 due to wider market for the crop.
“Uganda sesame is sold in the Middle East and Europe. The share of formal sesame exports to total production increased from 3.4% in2004 to 17% in2013 with over 77% of households produce being sold.” Nalunga said.
The market price for the crop on the International market has been fair especially in Europe. However many Ugandan traders have not fully maximized the market due to the more stringent certification and standardization requirements in the lucrative market that the exports are yet to meet.
Failure to meet the stringent market standards by many Ugandan traders has been one of the Impediments to exploring the potential of sesame especially in improving household and national income.
The 1628:2016 Sesame standard will make change in the entire value chain of the crop.
Uganda is the first country in the East African Community to develop a standard for sesame crop. The Uganda’s sesame standard was developed with financial support from Trade mark East Africa.
Source: Business Week

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TradeMark Africa.