Sesame Crop Farming Guide

Sesame farming is a rewarding agricultural practice that requires careful planning and adherence to best practices to ensure a successful harvest. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the essential steps involved in cultivating sesame crops, from land preparation to harvesting. Designed for farmers and agricultural enthusiasts, it covers critical aspects such as soil requirements, seed sowing, fertilizer management, weed control, pest and disease management, and harvesting techniques.

Land Preparation and Soil Requirement

 

  • Harrow the soil to a fine tilth for effective performance of the crop.
  • Pre-planting herbicide, Glyphosate at the rate of 4 L/ha should be sprayed two weeks to planting.
  • Sesame is adaptable to many types of soil but it does best on well-drained sandy loam soil.
  • The crop is usually produced on upland plains while depressions and valleys are generally unsuitable.
  • Once established, it can tolerate short periods of drought.
  • Good drainage is crucial, as sesame is very susceptible to short periods of waterlogging.
  • Sesame is intolerant of very acidic or saline soils.
  • The optimum pH for growth ranges from 5.4 to 6.7.

Seed Rate and Time of Sowing

  • Recommended seed rate is 8 kg/ha for broadcasting and 4 kg/ha for drilling methods.
  • Sesame seed should be treated with any of these seed treatments (mefenoxam or cymoxanil or seed care or disease force or combination).
  • Recommended practice for a sole crop of sesame is to plant on a flat bed with 60 cm between rows and 10 cm within rows.
  • Planting on ridges with 75 cm between rows and 15 cm within rows can be adopted when sesame is intercropped with another crop.
  • Due to the small size of sesame seeds, sowing depth should not be more than 2.5 cm.
  • Planting sesame is the most critical phase of its management.
  • Successful establishment of sesame requires careful seedbed preparation and close attention to soil moisture.
  • The crop can be grown twice as an early or late crop, or once a year depending on the ecological zone.
  • In the Sudan savanna zones, broadcasting should be done within the end of June and early July while in the Guinea Savanna zones, it is done within late July to early August.
  • Soil moisture must be sufficient to guarantee good germination.
  • The critical stage of water requirement is during the flowering stage.
  • Thinning should be done when the plants attain a height of 10–15 cm to remove the weak and diseased plants.

Fertilizer Management with 4R Nutrient Stewardship

  • Sesame requires: 60–70 kg Nitrogen/ha, 20–30 kg Phosphorus, 20–30 kg Potassium/ha.
  • Apply 2 bags of 50 kg (100 kg) Indorama NPK fertilizer as basal dose during land preparation.
  • Apply 2 bags of 50 kg (100 kg) Indorama Neem Coated Urea at 3 weeks of sowing and again 2 bags of 50 kg (100 kg) Indorama Neem Coated Urea should be incorporated at 5 weeks after sowing.
  • Indorama Fertilizer: Improving Agriculture, Improving Lives

How to Reduce Fertilizer Loss

  • Apply only the recommended dose of urea fertilizer.
  • Split application of urea fertilizer.
  • Use dribbling as method of urea fertilizer application.
  • Avoid broadcast method of fertilizer application to avoid wastage.
  • Apply urea fertilizer late in the evening or early in the morning.
  • Apply urea fertilizer after weeding to avoid competition from indigenous weeds.
  • Proper water management practices (avoid excessive irrigation).
  • Proper drainage will reduce urea fertilizer loss due to runoff.

Weed Control

  • Sesame grows slowly during the early stages and is not strongly competitive with weeds.
  • Poor weed control early in the life of the crop can result in greatly reduced crop yields.
  • Weed control is achieved via thorough land preparation, appropriate use of fertilizer and keeping the surroundings of farm weed-free.
  • Hoe weeding is done at least twice at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing.
  • Use of pre-emergence herbicide (Pendimethalin 750/ha) and post-emergence herbicide (Quizalofop-ethyl 40/ha). Alternatively clethodim or haloxyfop as post-emergence at 20 days after sowing.

Pest and Diseases Management

  • Pest and diseases are generally less in sesame fields.
  • Caterpillar and gall fly are the common pests of sesame.
  • Employ seed treatment to control seed-borne diseases.
  • Use of fungicide (Azoxystrobin) if notice of fungal infection.

Harvesting

  • Harvest Sesame when the leaves and stem change from green to yellow, if the leaves are still drop from plants.
  • Harvesting is delayed, shattering of the capsules will result in seed loss.
  • Harvested plants should be stacked in the field for a few days to dry before stripping the pods.
  • Drying should continue under the sun for 6–7 days until the moisture content is reduced.
  • Sesame seed is best stored unshelled and in cool conditions.

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Sesame Production in Nigeria

sesame aggregation

Nigeria is a significant player in the global sesame market, particularly as an exporter. In 2023, Nigeria being the second-largest exporter in Africa and the fourth-largest globally, with a value of $459.4 million, according to Tridge. The country’s exports are a key contributor to the non-oil sector, with a substantial portion going to Japan, China, and other Asian markets.

This growth is attributed to a 2% expansion in cultivated land, favorable weather conditions, and a 40% price surge, incentivizing smallholder farmers, who dominate over 90% of production. Nigeria’s sesame sector is export-oriented, with about 80–90% of output shipped to international markets, primarily China, Japan, and Turkey, generating significant foreign exchange (e.g., N89 billion in 2018)

Nigeria is a significant player in the global sesame market, being the second-largest exporter in Africa and the fourth-largest globally. Sesame is a crucial non-oil export for the country, contributing substantially to agricultural GDP and overall economic growth.

Here’s a breakdown of sesame production and market in Nigeria:

Sesame Production in Nigeria

  • Major Growing Regions: Sesame is widely grown as a cash crop in the savanna agro-ecological zones, particularly in the central and northern parts of the country. Key producing states include:
    • Jigawa
    • Niger
    • Nasarawa
    • Benue
    • Taraba
    • Kano
    • Gombe
    • Kogi
    • Plateau
    • Sokoto
    • Borno
    • Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
    • It can also be successfully grown in some parts of the South East and South South, such as Ebonyi and northern Cross River States.

 

  • Types of Sesame:
    • White (Food Grade) Sesame: Generally used in the bakery industry and grown around Keffi, Lafia/Makurdi, Doma, and in Nasarawa, Taraba, and Benue States.
    • Brown/Mixed (Oil Grade) Sesame: Primarily used for oil production and grown in the North, in Kano and Jigawa States (around Hadejia), and somewhat in the Southern part of Katsina State.
  • Production Statistics:
    • Nigeria produced 509,712 metric tons of sesame seeds in 2022, making it the fourth-largest producer globally (FAO).
    • There has been remarkable growth in sesame production since 1960 due to increasing domestic and international demand.
    • Approximately 90% of the sesame produced in Nigeria is exported.
  • Challenges in Production:
    • Low Yield per Hectare: Average output in Nigeria is around 275 kg per hectare, significantly lower than other major producers (e.g., Saudi Arabia at 1,083 kg/ha, Venezuela at 1,960 kg/ha, China at 1.4-1.6 tons/ha). This is attributed to:
      • Lack of adherence to best farm practices.
      • Knowledge gaps and poor crop management by smallholder farmers.
      • Poor processing procedures.
    • Inadequate Finance: Farmers often face limited access to credit and advanced farming tools.
    • Pests and Diseases: Prevalent pest and disease issues, sometimes exacerbated by a lack of proper knowledge and agro-chemicals.
    • Poor Agricultural Extension Services: Limited access to updated methods and information for farmers.
    • Theft: A significant concern for sesame farmers.
    • Inadequate Storage Facilities: Leads to post-harvest losses and limits Nigeria’s ability to capitalize on the crop’s long shelf life.
    • Quality Inconsistencies: Aggregating harvests from various smallholder farmers can lead to varying qualities, resulting in rejections in the export market.
    • Climate Change Impact: Affects agricultural productivity.

Sesame Market in Nigeria

  • Export-Driven Market: The Nigerian sesame market is primarily export-driven, with Europe, Asia, and the Middle East as key destinations.
  • Major Export Destinations: China, Japan, and Turkey are primary markets. Japan alone accounts for about 40% of Nigeria’s sesame exports.
  • Export Value:
    • Sesame seeds led Nigeria’s agricultural exports in Q1 2024, valued at ₦247.75 billion (US$161M), marking a 99% increase from Q4 2023.
    • Exports surged from ₦73.8 billion in 2014 to ₦1 trillion in 2024.
    • In 2023, Nigeria exported sesame seeds worth $463.827 million.
  • Market Trends:
    • Rising Global Demand: The global demand for sesame is expected to continue growing due to increasing preference for organic foods and its health benefits.
    • Price Volatility: Export prices have fluctuated, reflecting ongoing market instability.
    • Focus on Quality and Compliance: There’s a strong emphasis on enhancing export quality and reducing rejection rates, especially concerning pesticide residue levels and sanitary and phytosanitary standards, particularly for markets like Japan.
    • Value Addition: Stakeholders are pushing for processing sesame seeds into higher-value by-products like butter and oil to unlock more revenue and create jobs, as exporting raw seeds leaves significant potential revenue untapped.
    • Traceability: Becoming increasingly important, especially in demanding markets.
  • Market Challenges:
    • Quality Inconsistencies: As mentioned under production, this is a significant barrier to meeting international standards.
    • Limited Processing Plants: Only a few functional processing plants exist, hindering the production of high-quality seeds for export.
    • Inadequate Infrastructure: Affects transportation, storage, and overall logistics.
    • Trade Barriers: Stringent import regulations in major importing countries.
    • Fluctuating Global Prices: Impacts profitability for farmers and exporters.
    • Limited Access to Structured Markets: Many producers struggle to connect directly with international buyers.

The Nigerian government and various organizations are working to address these challenges through initiatives aimed at improving quality, providing training, streamlining regulatory processes, and enhancing infrastructure to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global sesame market.