Temporal Analysis of Sesame Marketing Price in the Sudan

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the main factors affecting price determination behavior of sesame crop in the mechanized rain-fed sector in Gedarif area. The study was based on monthly whole sale prices of sesame in Gedarif market during the period from January 1999 to December 2008. The temporal analysis was used to examine the fluctuations in monthly prices and seasonal patterns. The temporal analysis showed that the prices were instable as revealed by the results of the coefficients of variation and fluctuation percentage. The grand seasonal indices indicated that the trend in seasonal prices was pronounced but unstable, this was indicated by standard deviations. The lowest prices of sesame prevailed during the iii harvest seasons and the higher prices prevailed during the post harvest seasons. The study recommended the following: 1) To improve market information system (volume of supply, demand and prices). There must be adequate information both at producers and wholesalers levels. 2) The government should reconsider suitable resources against the oligopolistic group to maintain perfect competition to protect producers. 3) To expand storage facilities and distribute them over wide areas to minimize losses. iv