Sesame seed is one of the oldest oilseed crops known, cultivated well over 3000 years ago. Aside from its high oil content which has a rich and nutty flavour, the seeds are also suitable for various bakery products and other goods of the food industry. 

The largest sesame areas are grown in India, China, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Sudan. However, the most productive sesame farms are located in Greece, where largest productions per hectare were recorded in 2013. 

On the other hand, the largest sesame seeds importing countries are Japan, China, Turkey, South Korea, Israel and the UAE. 

Commercial sesame crops require 90 to 120 frost free days. Warm conditions above 23 °C (73 °F) favour growth and yields. While sesame seeds can grow in poor soils, the best yields come from properly fertilized farms. 

Sesame is drought-tolerant, in part due to its extensive root system. However, it requires adequate moisture for germination and early growth. While the crop survives drought and presence of excess water, the yields are significantly lower in either condition. Moisture levels before planting and flowering impact yield most. 

Commercial sesame cultivation is a very good business and you will make good profit if you follow this complete guide carefully:

See also: 7 Simple Tips to Maintain Your Farm Equipment

Pick a good location 

First of all, ensure to pick a good location. This is very important as sesame seeds generally grow very well in well-drained soil which is fertile with neutral pH. They tend to do very well in dry conditions, but cannot tolerate water-logged conditions. And the seeds require full sun for proper growth and maximum yield. These are all the factors while selecting location for growing sesame seeds. 

Soil Preparation 

The ideal pH level for growing sesame plants is between 5.5 and 8.0. Acidic or alkaline soils are not suitable for growing sesame. 

For preparing the soil, 1-2 ploughing will be required with 2-3 cross harrowing. Apply all the fertilizers during this time. For commercial production, add 10-12 kg urea and 40-50 kg superphosphate per acre. And apply MOP if the soil is deficient. 

Variety Selection and Purchase 

There are several sesame varieties available in different parts of the world. It is best to select the variety which is easily available in your area. Some improved or hybrid sesame varieties are SVPR-1, VRI-1, VRI-2, CO-1, TMV-3, TMV-4, TMV-5, TMV-6 and TMV-7. Ensure to consult with an existing farmer or an agriculture specialist in your area who has a good recommendation for selecting good variety. 

After you have made your selection, purchase good quality seeds from any of your nearest markets. You can also consider ordering the seeds online. 

Planting and Planting Rates 

Because the sesame seeds are very small in size, you will require less seeds as compared to many other crops. Generally, a proportion of 2- 2.2 kg seeds will be enough for one acre. 

It is a very good option to plant seeds in rows instead of scattering them throughout the land. Ensure the rows are spaced to about 10-12 inches apart. Mix the seed with dry sand and spread the mixture along the furrows to ensure even distribution. Sow the seeds to about 1/2 to 2/3 inch deep. Cover the seeds with soil after sowing, and water the soil lightly. 

Before sowing the seeds, you will need to treat them with Bavistin at the rate of 2 grams per kg seed. This will prevent the seeds from brone diseases. You can thin the seedlings to about 4-6 inches apart when they are about or up to 4 inches tall.

Fertility, Water and Weed Management 

In most cases, additional fertilizers for growing sesame plants is not necessary. If you have prepared the soil by following the guides mentioned above, your crops will grow just fine. But if there is a need, stick to balanced NPK fertilizers. 

Sesame seeds use less water compared to other oily seeds but will give higher yields with more moisture. The best water the sesame seeds will ever get after planting is that of a heavy pre- irrigation. Once the seeds germinate, fast light irrigations would be preferable. Too much water kills sesame seeds.

Managing weeds is very important as they consume most of the nutrients from the soil. The first step for controlling weeds should be taken while preparing the soil. Then additional weeding is required 15-25 days after sowing the seeds. And finally, another one at 15 to 20 days after first weeding. 

Pest and Diseases 

These are generally less in sesame plants especially in the growing area with present varieties. However, caterpillar and gall fly are the common pests you will notice while growing sesame plants. Endeavour to consult with an experienced farmer or your nearest agriculture extension office for more help for controlling all these pests and diseases. 

Harvest and Yield 

Sesame seeds become ready for harvesting within 3-5 months after planting the seeds depending on the variety. But in most varieties, you can expect to harvest when the leaves, stems and capsules begin to turn yellow and the lower leaves of the plant start shedding. 

It is not advisable to wait until the crop becomes dead ripe as this will cause the seeds to shed. The ripe sesame plants should be cut at the ground level and should be stacked for 7 to 10 days in sun to get them ready for the threshing process. 

Total yield always depends on the variety selected, and also on good farm management practice. It is possible to expect between 200 and 500 kg per hectare in autumn. And 300-600 kg per hectare in summer. 

Written By: Nene Nseabasi 

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A woman puts her all in ensuring that the earth yields its increase. She cultivates her farmland and grows crops for domestic consumption; nurturing her plants the same way she handles her young. She weeds and ensures that the soil is regularly watered throughout the planting season. After harvesting, she handpicks and separates the crops – takes some home to feed her family and the rest to the market for sale. This is the reason why there are more women in local markets.

Women’s involvement in agriculture dates before the earliest existence of civilization – when they had to bore many children to help out in farmlands belonging to their families. This is because the continent has a history of relying on family farming, which depends on family labor.

Women have been the backbone of African rural agriculture and the guardians of the continent’s food security.

African women constitute about 70% of the agricultural workforce. According to a report by the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women produce up to 80% of foodstuffs for household consumption and sale in local markets.

See also: AFDB to Setup Fourteen Agro Processing Zones Across Africa

The United Nations estimates that Africa will have a population of two billion people by 2050, the majority being women and youths. The most direct consequence of this exponential population growth is that there will be more mouths to feed. This feat can be achieved by empowered women. They are the major drivers of both rural and international trade of agro commodities.

The high level of participation of African women in the agricultural sector comes with challenging working conditions. Although the agricultural labor force is comprised mostly of women, the rules governing ownership and transfer of land rights are less favorable to African women than those in Asia and Latin America. According to FAO, women possess less than 1% of land and are often ignored in rural development projects which often target male-dominated activities.

Women deserve equal rights to own farmlands and agribusinesses. To improve yields, women should have better access to lands, mechanized tools, markets, fertilizer, credit facilities, and information. Hence, for International Women Day 2020, we have chosen to celebrate the unsung productive labor of the African women in agriculture. Although she is not yet where she wants to be, she is not where she used to be centuries ago.

At MTFC, we believe that Africa can feed the world, and empowering women is the major way to achieve food security. Happy International Women’s Day to the women in agriculture.

Written by:

Joy Ejere Uche

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Mr. Wole divulged this information during his panel session on the 26th of February, 2020. The session dubbed ‘Roundtable: Agritech Youth Empowerment’ was hosted by MyFarmbase Africa, an Agritech platform that leverages technology for research, advocacy, and sustainable agriculture consulting. The startup aims to leverage all at its disposal to boost food production in Africa.

MyFarmbase invited Wole Oshin, Ag. Head AgriBusiness, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc; Aliu Iyanuoluwa, CEO/Co-founder MyFarmbase Africa; Segun Oworu, Digital Farming project Lead, Bayer Middle Africa Ltd.; and Angel Adelaja-Kuye, Consultant to Ogun State.

See also: Event Review: Meet the Farmers Conference (MTFC) 2019

“The AFDB would invest N300 million in Nigeria, the pilot country to help smoothen the kick-off of the processing zones,” said Mr. Wole.

He further explained that the pilot would begin in the middle of the third quarter of 2020, and the private agro companies in the country will spearhead the program.

To further smoothen things for the agricultural value chain in Africa, the AFDB will be partnering with the fintechs in the continent. Fintechs will leverage the partnership to drive financial solutions across the agro value chain.

The agro-processing will focus on Maize, Soya, rice, aquaculture, cocoa, poultry, cassava, and livestock farming.

More on MTFC:

• UNDP Launches Cultivate Agro Initiative for Innovative Agritech Startups
• How Logistics Can Scale Agro Trade in Africa
• The Future of Technology in Agriculture
• Dealing with Agricultural Challenges in Africa
• UAE’s Interest in Non-oil Trade Relations with African Countries

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The winners will gain access to UNDP’s global network of experts, agro community membership, financial support, research, and development opportunities. Other benefits of participating include a collaborative process that ensures commercially viable and investable solutions and partnerships between participating agritech startups.

Cultiv@te Agro Initiative aims at bringing together global-leading agritech startups, experts, and market insights for sustainable agriculture. The participants will be judged based on impact, innovation, relevance, feasibility, and clarity.

Application closes on the 14th of February, and UNDP will announce successful applicants on the 24th of February. In the first stage, UNDP will select 78 teams and shortlist the final 52 teams afterward. Each shortlisted team will solve 1 of 13 challenge statements under three themes;

• Urban agriculture: How do you leverage innovative technologies to rethink and create a sustainable food production system for the urban population?
• Rainfed agriculture: How can you maximize agricultural productivity to meet the challenges posed by climate change?
• Livestock farming and aquaculture: How do you ensure safe, sustainable livestock farming and lessen the environmental impact of current practices?

All 52 teams will have to solve 13 challenge statements targeted at 12 countries, which include Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Sudan. The teams will also attend the Global Launch to hold in Singapore in July. Register for the Cultiv@te Initiative here.

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Meet the Farmers Conference is an annual conference aimed at promoting and supporting agribusiness partnerships between Africa and the GCC. It encourages technology innovation in the agricultural value chain and provides a platform for agro trade between both regions. The theme of the conference this year, ‘Creating a Sustainable Future; Food Security | Trade | Technology’ is anchored on sustaining food production, facilitating inter-regional trade and promoting technology in agriculture.

This year’s conference was largely attended by African farmers, exporters, investors, distributors, policymakers, logistics companies, and trade agencies. Standardization bodies, agricultural advocates, exhibitors, off-takers from the GCC, and participants from different countries were all present.

The conference opened with a welcome address delivered by Bola Oyedele, Managing Director Crenov8, and was followed by a keynote speech from the office of the UAE Ministry of Economy represented by H.E. Juma Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary- Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Economy, UAE. He expressed the UAE’s interest in trading with Africa and encouraged farmers to capitalize on this opportunity and export food to the GCC.

Next was a presentation on ‘How Logistics can help Improve Agricultural Trade in Africa’ by Adekunle Oyinloye, Group Managing Director -SIFAX Group, Gold sponsors of the conference. Omar Khan, Director of International Offices at Dubai Chamber of Commerce spoke on ‘How Dubai is Advancing Trade Relations with Africa’. He described MTFC as a conference that exposes Agribusinesses in Africa to opportunities in the UAE. He also stressed that the Dubai Chamber is willing to support agribusinesses and other organizations looking to set up business in Dubai.

The conference featured other presentations and panel sessions by agro experts across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Topics ranged from ‘Ways to Create a Sustainable Future in Agriculture’ to the ‘Opportunities in Agricultural Value Chain’. Some of the panelists for both sessions include Kenneth Obiajulu, Managing Director – Farmcrowdy, Ademola Akinyemi – CEO Farmcenta, Alok Bhargava – MD Praramb Agri-Trading DMCC, Dennie Beach – President Go Africa LLC, Schlueter – President Doehler MENA and Adekunle Oyinloye – Group MD of SIFAX Group. This was followed by breakout meetings and B2B networking sessions.

Day Two

After an engaging time on the first day of the conference, the second day was lit with expectant faces and high-level networking had started in the conference hall already, The full proceedings of the day began with a presentation by Dr Abdulkareem Muhammad Al Amri, CEO Hail Agriculture Consultancy. He spoke on the ‘Role of Africa in Supporting UAE Food Security’. Highlighting the major African-produced food crops that are in demand in the UAE,  he encouraged farmers to cultivate for export as there is a huge market ready to absorb same in the UAE. His speech was succeeded by a presentation on ‘Food Trade in the UAE’ by Joachim Yebouet, CEO Foodco Holdings, one of the largest FCMGs engaged in food processing and distribution in the UAE. This presentation focused on the role Africa has to play to ensure the sustained distribution and availability of food for the UAE’s teeming population.

Other highlights of the event included two-panel sessions and a presentation underlining the Standards and Requirement for Food Importation into the UAE, How to deal with the Agricultural Challenges in Africa and the Agribusiness Opportunities in Africa.

MTFC 2019 Innov8Agric Challenge

The Conference this year also featured the second edition of Innov8Agric Challenge. This year, we received over a thousand applications with various innovative Agritech ideas from across Africa. The finalists, Acquahmeyer Ghana, AgriGo Rwanda and Lentera Africa pitched at the grand finale held at MTFC 2019. At the end of an exciting pitch session, Lentera Africa emerged winner of this year’s Innov8Agric Challenge. The CEO, Moses Kimani was awarded the sum of $5000 grand prize and other incentives that came with the Innov8Agric Prize.

Other Awardees at MTFC 2019 include;

• The Most Impactful Networking Group – UAE AFRICA NETWORKING GROUP
• Business Excellence Award – GO AFRICA 
• Company of the Year – SIFAX GROUP 
• Sustainable Company of the Year – WEBCOR GROUP
• Best Innovative Company of the Year – ADVANTA SEEDS
• Excellence in Investment Promotion – FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (FMARD Nigeria)
• Trade excellence Award – MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, UAE

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Technology will bring about innovation, the introduction of modern farm practices and a total revamp to the agro sector. 

The introduction of AI Agriculture Bots enables easy harvest of crops at faster rates for maximum production volumes. This bot will perform typical functions of harvesters and relieve the stress involved by 99%. 

Also, cameras and satellites are on spot in future farmlands. These gadgets monitor the growth of farm produce and allow farmers to know what is happening on farmlands. This will reduce theft and monitor the growth and survival of crops.

See:How to Deal with Agricultural Challenges in Africa

Another modern technology that will impact the future of agriculture is the use of machine learning and IoT. More drones and robots will also become rampantly used in farmlands around the world. 

Imagine farmlands totally managed by robots. A farm where robots plough, till the ground, monitor and harvest the crop is what the future of agriculture looks like. 

In developed countries, irrigation and typical crop supervision are carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles are built on machine learning and AI.

And finally, IoT just made the Agro future fantastic. Imagine controlling all this technology, predicting data and running daily farm activities with just a simple remote control – Fantastic right! Yes, the future will be. 

Thus, as we advance into the 4th industrial revolution, the agro sector will not be left behind. Rather, it will evolve into a sector fully enhanced with technology.

The future of Technology in Agriculture will also be a major lecture delivered by Hannu Kulju at the 2019 MTFC conference that holds in six days. 

You can attend to learn more by clicking here to register.

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Meet the Farmers’ Conference is an annual agro event that aims to enhance economic diversity, promote technology in agriculture to catalyze output, and create a sustainable agro-economy for global food security by promoting trade relationships between Africa and the Middle East.

Innov8Agric Challenge is a major highlight of Meet the Farmers Conference – an initiative of Crenov8 DMCC, a multinational digital and management consulting firm. The Challenge is aimed at promoting innovative ideas for early stage Agric entrepreneurs from all sectors of the agriculture ecosystem who are applying creative and innovative methods to improve the state of agriculture across Africa. As part of its goals, the challenge will help the participants raise funds from investors, pitch their solutions to a global audience and open investment opportunities for Agritech startups in Africa.

See also: UAE’s Interest in Non-oil Trade Relations with African Countries

The startups selected to pitch at the Grand Finale are Crop2cash; a Nigerian- based startup that connects farmers to capital and profitable markets, Acquameyer Drone Tech; a Ghanian- based AgTech startup that provides farmers with drones to spray, plant, and analyse soil and crops in real time and Lentera Africa; a Kenyan- based AgTech startup enabling farmers adapt to climatic changes through technology.

Over 1000 startups submitted applications for the 2019 edition of Innov8Agric Challenge and the selected finalists will get all-expense paid trips to Dubai for the Grand Finale of the challenge and an opportunity to grants, access to further funding opportunities, business expansion and access to experts and mentors in the business of Agriculture. This pitch competition will take stage during Meet the Farmers’ Conference which is scheduled to hold on 27th and 28th November 2019 at the Address Hotel Marina, Dubai, UAE.

Are you an agro stakeholder or startup interested in attending the conference? Register here

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However, Africa’s agricultural potentials cannot be fully maximized without dealing with its challenges. Farmers across Africa, unlike their global counterparts, face challenges that go beyond pests, diseases, damaging water, etc. Their challenges mostly border on lack of access to the necessary input required to boost productivity.

The majority of Africans depend on agriculture for their livelihood. As regards to this, boosting agricultural growth will scale income and the living conditions of Africans. Considering that one of the most effective ways to boost the use of local products and services and generate economic growth is by scaling the growth of the agricultural sector.

See also: UAE’s Interest in Non-oil Trade Relations with African Countries

Agricultural growth propels economic development which will be unachievable without significant investments in the sector. Investments in the agricultural sector cut across; Inputs e.g. Fertilizer and Hybrid seed; Infrastructure e.g. Irrigation, Storage, Electricity, Technology, Roads, Ports, etc.; Markets e.g. Trade; policies, regional and international trade flows, off-take markets. When these are carried out properly, jobs will be created across all investment sectors.

To properly deal with Africa’s agricultural challenges, there is a need to collaborate, cooperate and network at multiple levels. Which is the platform Meet the Farmers Conference (MTFC) 2019 aims to provide.

MTFC is the largest agro conference that connects agro stakeholders from Africa and the GCC. The conference aims to produce a healthy environment, economic profitability, and innovations, in a bid to drive business partnerships that will foster formidable agricultural growth.

The conference will feature a presentation from Leonie Hartmann the CEO of Avagro. He will be speaking on the topic ‘How to Deal with Agricultural Challenges in Africa’.

More on MTFC:

• Creating a Sustainable Future In Agriculture
• The Role of Dubai as an International Trade Hub for Businesses in Africa
• The role of African Farmers in Achieving Zero Hunger and Global Food Security
• Where this is found in Africa Series – an Expository of African Cash Crops
• Highlights of Agriculture in North Africa

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History has it that coffee originated from Ethiopia but was transported by some Yemenis who obtained the beans from Somali traders traveling to the Middle East. This happened as far back as the mid-15th century, serving as evidence of the trade relationship between both regions. 

In 2016, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce reported that non-oil trade between Africa and the UAE amounted to $24 billion. The UAE serves as a major re-exporting hub for African commodities.

The government provides ease of doing business by making the process seamless and digitized. Inter-regional trade is supported by a wide range of initiatives aimed at facilitating export-import relationships.

See also: The Role of Dubai as an International Trade Hub for Businesses in Africa

Dubai in the UAE has become a preferred location for conferences focused on non-oil trade between Africa and the Middle East. 

One of such conferences is Meet the Farmers Conference, an annual agro conference that brings together agro stakeholders from Africa to connect and partner with off-takers in the UAE. Its mission is to provide African farmers with opportunities to access global markets, using Dubai as a trade hub.

Now in its third year, the conference is focusing on the theme, Creating a Sustainable Future. The conference will be held on the 27th & 28th of November 2019 at the Address Hotel Marina, Dubai UAE.

The Special Guest of Honor of Meet the Farmers Conference (MTFC 2019) is H.E Juma Mohamed Al Kait, the Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs, Ministry of Economy. He will be speaking extensively on the UAE’s Interest in Trading with African Countries. Attend the conference to learn about the several initiatives that promote bilateral trade between Africa and the UAE.

Click to register here.

More on MTFC:

• Creating a Sustainable Future In Agriculture
• The role of African Farmers in Achieving Zero Hunger and Global Food Security
• World Bank & Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture Launches Agritech Incubator Program
• Finnfund Invests US$2.86 million In Tanzania’s Africado Farm
• Nigerian Agricultural Sector Introduces Smart Seed Labeling Technology to Eliminate Low-Quality Seeds

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Sustainable agriculture aims to meet our present agricultural needs without compromising its availability for future generations.

Agricultural Sustainability is not boosting food production to feed people, neither is it farming that focuses on the environment. It is a multifaceted system that focuses on the Argo process and agribusiness in general, rather than just a specific agricultural product.

Research has it that sustainable agriculture can be actualized via three factors; a healthy environment, economic profitability, and innovation. The process of agricultural sustainability cuts across every member of the agri-ecosystem; farmers, food processors, distributors, retailers, consumers, and waste managers alike.

To achieve a sustainable agricultural future, collaboration and cooperation at multiple levels and cross-cultural knowledge exchange is required.

Meet the Farmers Conference (MTFC) 2019, the largest agro conference brings together agro stakeholders from Africa and the GCC. It aims to create a healthy environment, economic profitability, and innovations, to drive business partnerships that will make a formidable impact in agriculture.

The conference will feature panel session that includes Bola Oyedele, Azeez Oluwole, Joshua Ajisope, Ademola Akinyemi and Kenneth Okonkwo will be addressing ‘Ways to Create a Sustainable Future in Agriculture’. 

More on MTFC:

• The Role of Dubai as an International Trade Hub for Businesses in Africa
• The role of African Farmers in Achieving Zero Hunger and Global Food Security
• Where this is found in Africa Series – an Expository of African Cash Crops
• UN Appoints Aliko Dangote and Akinwumi Adesina to Tackle Global Malnutrition
• AATF partners IRRI to Scale Hybrid Rice Production in Africa

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