In West Africa’s Sahel region, sesame production faces the main challenge of lack of reliable markets and considerable price fluctuations for seed marketing. However, the sesame sector is progressively developing, and sesame could become an important cash crop for smallholders. In both Senegal and Mali, this is the case.
Is Sesame a resilient crop in West Africa?
Background: West Africa¡¯s Sahel is characterized by a dry and hot climate with limited rainfall that impairs the production of several crops. Sesame is a resilient crop that is well suited to this environment. Unfortunately, there is a lack of data relative to the status of its production in West Africa.
Which country produces the most sesame seeds?
Africa is the world¡¯s leading continent in sesame seed production, with Sudan being the leading producer country in Africa [6]. Its seeds have one of the highest oil contents (~ 55%) among major oilseed crops [7]. Beyond the traditional use of direct consumption, sesame seeds have diverse applications [8].
Is sesame from West Africa high quality?
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.