Sesame seeds from West Africa, specifically the cultivar S42 grown in Mali, have valuable levels of oil and protein. This genotype is the best in terms of seed quality and is widely grown in countries like Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad.
What is sesame oil?
1. Introduction Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the oldest cultivated oilseed crops, known for its resilient growth in arid conditions and highly valued seeds for their oil and nutritional content.
Why is the Sesame sector better organized in Mali than Senegal?
The sesame sector is better organized in Mali, which positively impacts on the seasonal production and yield of sesame. As a result, a farmer¡¯s total income from sesame production is higher in Mali than in Senegal. This implies that the sesame sector is more developed in Mali, which should lead to the rapid development of the sector.
Do Mali farmers earn more from Sesame than Senegal farmers?
Farmers in Mali earned significantly higher incomes (more than double) from sesame production than farmers in Senegal (p = 0.001). The following table shows the average sesame market prices ($/kg) and average seasonal incomes per farmer per Ha in the four regions.