Modern technology to boost sesame farmers’ earnings

By DAILY NEWS Reporter 

SESAME farmers can increase production and boost their earnings through improved agriculture practices and modern technologies, Agriculture Minister Dr Charles Tizeba has said.

He said at a two-day forum held in Dar es Salaam yesterday that Tanzania was in the top five global exporters of sesame where in 2016 it generated 129 million US dollars after exporting 133,752 metric tonnes.

Dr Tizeba added, if Tanzania exports rise by 15 per cent annually, revenues generated can reach 229 million US dollars in 2017.

“While many stakeholders wish for higher prices, sesame farmers and traders should understand that they are in the top five global exporters doing business with global markets,” he said.

Farm Africa organised the forum as part of the Sesame Value Chain Programme, funded by Comic Relief. With partners like INADES Tanzania, COSITA and MVIWATA, Farm Africa works with farmers to increase income, nutrition and food security by improving agricultural practices, market linkages and business skills.

While the average farmer harvests 70 kg/acre of sesame, farmers supported by Farm Africa have increased their yield to 202 kg/acre with some reaching full potential of 425 kg/acre to earn profits of 811,625/-.

Since the cost of production per acre is only 250,000/- sesame offers a profitable opportunity for all Tanzanians to earn income through self-employment.

Dr Tizeba explained that Tanzanian youth can play a key role in increasing sesame productivity, market linkages and trade.

By using information-communication technologies (ICT), young people will help modernize the agricultural sector by improving access to technical training, market information and business management.

The forum was attended by farmers, traders, exporters and government officials from the Agriculture Seeds Agency (ASA) and Manyoni, Babati, Kilwa and Bahi districts.

He pledged to advocate for new investment in sesame production saying, “We should come forwards and testify before these financial institutions that farmers are now able and capable to apply for loans – sesame farming is now a stable business.”