Sesame seeds are one of the highly sought after cash crops in Nigeria. It is second to cocoa in terms of export value. In fact 90% of the sesame seed produced in the country is exported abroad. The reason for the popularity of sesame seeds is due to its numerous health and industrial benefits. Also, the seed has a higher oil content compared to other oilseed crops.
Sesame oil which is extracted from the seeds is useful in the cosmetic industries for producing body lotions and creams. This oil is also used in the production of canned sardine, corned beef, margarine and soaps. It is also in high demand in bakeries, confectioneries, paint and pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, the by-products of sesame seeds can be used to make animal feeds.
In terms of health benefits, if you’re in search of a vegetable oil with little or no cholesterol, then sesame seed oil is also an excellent alternative. Sesame oil is rich in vitamins, particularly vitamin E and pantothenic acid. It is also an excellent source of essential amino acids, fatty acids, calcium and phosphorus.
Globally, over 4.8 million tonnes of sesame seeds are produced annually. Nigeria has the capacity to meet this production rate yet the country produces just a little over 300 000 tonnes annually. This volume makes Nigeria the second largest producer of sesame seeds in Africa and the seventh in the world.
Currently, there are 26 sesame-growing states in Nigeria; some of these include Ebonyi, Delta, Jigawa, Bauchi, Nassarawa, Benue and Taraba. The market for sesame seeds is quite vast with Japan and China as the major importers of these seeds. Countries like Turkey, India, Poland and Netherlands have also traded with Nigeria in the past.
If you’re looking to start a sesame plantation, there are several things you should know and we’ve put together a step by step guide in this article. However, one of the first questions you might be asking is – which is the best state for sesame farming?
Well, the sesame plant is a versatile crop that thrives quite well in the Northern part of Nigeria due to its drought resistant ability. Notwithstanding, it also grows in some other parts of the country like the South East and South South zones of the country. However, too much rainfall can adversely affect the yield. Overall, one of the best states for starting your venture would be Taraba State. This region has two farming cycles with harvest in August and October respectively. But you would need to access the data from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to enable you make an informed decision.
Your next question should be – where can I get sesame seeds of the best quality for planting?
Currently, there are five cultivars of sesame seeds that have been advocated for optimal performance and yield. These are the NCRIBEN O1m (530-6-10) with a potential yield of 1000 kg/ha and oil content of 45%; NCRIBEN-O2M Type 4with a potential yield of 750 kg/ha and oil content 45%; NCRIBENO-31 (Goza-25) with a potential yield of 600 kg/ha and oil content of 40% ;E8 with a potential yield of 1000 kg/ha and oil content of 50% and Yandev-55 with a potential yield of 600 kg/ha and 45%.
After selecting the right seeds the next step is to plant your seeds. At this point, it is expected that the land has been prepared adequately. Ideally, the planting season is often dependent on the ecological zone, but most times, it is between March and August. Sesame thrives best in loamy soil with a pH of 5.5-6.7. Planting can be done in ridges using a mechanical planter. The planting should be spaced in rows of 60 cm by 10 cm. Also, you can also broadcast the seeds on the plain land. Approximately 4-5kg of sesame seeds is needed per hectare. Generally, a hectare of land will produce 1-1.5 tonnes of sesame seed per year.
It is very important you monitor your planting process because the sesame plant is quite susceptible to diseases and pest. These include insects, nematodes, fungi, bacteria and weeds and these infestations generally reduce the yield and quality of the harvest.
Also, constant weeding should be carried out for the first 25 days after planting as young seedlings are easily choked by the yet-to-germinate seeds. Another important activity is thinning which should be done three weeks post planting. It should be maintained at 2 plants per stand along each roll. This helps to prevent problems of high density.
Sesame takes approximately 4-5 months to reach maturity. The seeds are harvested when 50% of its capsules turn yellow. If you delay harvest, seeds may be too fragile leading to shattering and loss of yield. A sickle is used to cut the stem. Generally, the process of harvesting and processing sesame in Nigeria is a manual one.
Wrapping Up
As stated earlier, the market for sesame seeds is quite large and you don’t have to ponder whether your seeds will be needed. Apart from the Asian and European countries that import these seeds, the Middle East is also fast becoming an import destination. Countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are showing an increasing demand for this product. However, you’ll have find out the process of exporting your seeds by visiting the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). This ensures that you have the best information to work with.
One of the many advantages of sesame is that it is more profitable when compared to other crops using the same level of resources. In fact, as a first timer planter, you can experiment with the seeds because you don’t need as much resources to start up.
However, when compared to other oil seeds, the tonne generated per hectare is lower. This is why you should be ready to set aside several hectares of agricultural land for the project on the long term. You may use 1 hectare to test the process after which you can proceed planting at a large scale.
Happy Farming!
I starting my sesamseed plantings in area of jigawa State pls i need advice
How much do you buy per bag?
I am from Adamawa state, can I plant sesame seeds In August?. Please advise me. Thanks.
Please i would like to start up a sesame seed plantation in taraba state i am having 254 hectares of land but need advice
Pls i need good seeds for planting. .which type of cultivar seeds do you have
Is kwara state good to plant sesame seed, and how many time is good to plant it in a year? Thanks
Hello I have just started the production process of saseme seed in wamba nasarawa state. Samuel I will like to keep in touch .
My contact is 07060860784 , umarmusababangida@gmail.com
Need more edication on the cultovation of sesame seeds
Hi, I’ll like to know if your company will be buying seseme (beniseed) by ending of Aug – mid of September cuz I just start the planting early this month. My email is below
Pls how much is a bag of sesame seed and who are the off takers
The price of sesame is not stable like cocoa price. The price per bag is 20,000 (50kg bag)
Samuel, I”ll like to have ur contact address, email or phone no.
Here is my e-mail address; samuel.adekola@ecomtrading.com, +2348067557711
In addition, we are ready to off take. At least we have bought more 10,000 MT at the begging of last year season to date.kindly contact me through by mail. Thanks
In the location where my farm is, a village under Agaie in Niger State a lot of farmers do farm this crop; will you have interest to buy it off from them after harvest? You response is very important so that will communicate it to them.
Please any body that can help me set up my farm should contact me on sesame seed
My contact is samuel.adekola@ecomtrading.com/ +2348067557711
Pls where can I get very good seed of sesame seed for planting, and how per kilo? Thanks
I have good seeds for planting. Kindly contact me through my mail address below.
Thanks
Is that not melon ?
We are ready to buy whatsoever quantity produced.
We are ready to buy whatsoever quantity produced
Need someone that has been in the system. That has planted it before
type of chemical that can and that cannot be apply
where can one sell sesame seeds in Nigeria after harvesting?
my company is readily available to buy the dried seed once it is well dried. Besides, we have cleaning machine that clean with 99% purity. Kindly contact me directly
Hello Samuel Adekola,
I would love to speak to you please, On Sesame seeds.
I cant find your email, When you get this, could you please contact me via nenisplace@gmail.com
Thanks
What is the name of your company and it location?
Can you plant sesame in dry season, as in form irrigation just like they do for rice and maize?
thanks for the knowledge,can sesame seeds be planted in south west
Pls what is the percentage of clean bag of sesame after processing and how many bags of raw make a clean bag
It depends on the host harvest practices and handling, the weight lost after cleaning is between 10-15%.
fertiler requirement per hecter
4 bags of NPK and 1bag urea
can you apply fertilizer and herbicides on sesame seeds
yes you can apply fertilizer in a poor in a poor land but in the case of land that have an organic manure available no need of fertilizer again Mr bala
Pls how do you charge for cleaning? Where is your location?
Maturity for sesame seed is between 90 to 130 days. Therefore this is 3 to 4.5 Months