Oilseeds
Sesame
Ethiopia has high quality sesame seed varieties suitable for wide range applications. The varieties that are well known are HumeraGonder and Wellega. Sesame humera has the highest oil content of between 54 and 56 percent. It is appreciated worldwide for its aroma and taste. It is suitable for various bakery products. The Gonder type is also suitable for the bakery market. The major competitive advantage of the Wellega type is its high oil content. Sesame is grown from sea level to altitudes of 1500mt with uniformly distributed rainfall of about 500 – 800 mm and temperature of 25 – 30 Celsius. All the sesame growing areas fulfill the above condition in particular the north and north western parts of the country. The types of soil ranging from fertile soils to sand and cropping altitude from more than 3000mt to less than 600 mt asl.
Niger Seeds
Ethiopia uses the Niger seed for the oil extraction for human consumption as cooking oil. Niger seed is an erect, stout, branched annual herb, grown for its edible oil and seed. Its cultivation originated in the Eritrean and Ethiopia highlands, and has spread to other parts of Ethiopia. The benefits of Niger seed are similar to those of black sesame seeds. It needs moist soil to grow properly and requires moderate rainfall between 1000 and 1250 mm (39 – 49 in) annually. Traditionally, Niger oil is used as a massage oil. Its therapeutic properties offer relief in case of aches, pains and skin problems.
Line seeds
Linseed is an oil seed crop and the richest plant source of omega 3 fats, which are essential for a healthy brain, heart, joints and immune system. Typically, linseed consists of approximately 40% fat, 28% dietary fiber, 21% protein, 4% ash, and 6% carbohydrates. It has a wide use as a source of food, feed, fiber, oil, medicine, industrial raw material and export commodity. Linseed is the small, reddish-brown or golden-yellow seed of the common flax plant, the same plant that’s used to grow the fiber from which linen has been made for thousands of years. Culinary grade linseed or flaxseed oil has a rich, buttery taste and is useful to add richness to dishes.
castor beans
Castor beans grow naturally and abundantly in the highland of Ethiopia. The leaf of the castor plant is identified as one of the best for silk worms. The oil is rich in ricin oleic acid and is highly valued oil for a wide range of technical uses. Castor seed is the source of castor oil, which has a wide variety of uses. The seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil that is rich in triglycerides, mainly ricinolein. The seed contains ricin, a toxin, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant.
Ground nuts
Groundnut or peanut is one of the major foods and oilseed crops in the world. It is a rich source of oil (45–56%), protein (25–30%), carbohydrates (9.5–19.0%), minerals (P, Ca, Mg, and K), and vitamins (E, K, and B). It is used in intercropping or crop rotation systems because of its ability to improve soil fertility through atmospheric nitrogen fixation. In Ethiopia, groundnut is commonly produced for food, cash income, and animal feed. It is solely grown by smallholder farmers under dry land conditions in the lowland and drought-prone areas of the country. The major groundnut producer region in Ethiopia is Oromia, Benshangul – Gumuz and Amhara regional states.
Safflower
Ethiopia safflower oil comes from the hardy safflower multi-branched safflower plant (Carthamus tinctorius). It is a vital source of oleic acid that has an ability to prevent or control heart disease. Because of its high polyunsaturated fat, the vegetable oil is good for bad cholesterol control. It features, too, in cosmetics due to its anti-inflammation properties that leads to spotless skin. It also applies in hair products for giving the hair a shine. As well as having some abilities against muscle contractions, the oil has overall benefits of boosting the immunity of an individual. The cultivation is mostly done by small farmers in well fertile and drained field, usually around homesteads. However, seeds harvested from the plant are used for oil extraction, roasted seed and other traditional uses (seed is extracted into drinks used during fast by peoples). Safflower can be a dual-purpose crop: the seeds as oil crop and the petals for extracting dyes. The petals can be picked some weeks before the harvesting of the seeds. The crop can be grown after cereals as a second crop.