The Growing Market for Africa's 'White Gold' Sesame Seeds

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Sesame seeds are more than just seeds on a bun. It is a good source of healthy fats, protein, B vitamins, minerals, fibre, antioxidants, and other beneficial plant compounds. Sesame seeds are also known for its ability to control blood sugar levels and aid in the easing of arthritic pain. It is also used in salad dressings or marinades, for added texture and a nutty flavour. In Africa, the farming of the seed is slowly growing in popularity. For Ethiopia, sesame is one of its three oilseed crops - sesame, soybean and Niger seed - and accounts for 20% of its total agriculture export profits, second only to coffee. Sudan's sesame production is centred around Gedarif state which is known as the country's breadbasket. Tensions have however been growing between Ethiopia and Sudan, where the crops are grown on the border of the two nations, after the Sudanese army occupied the land in late 2020, during the Ethiopia-Tigray war, writes Ahmed Soliman reports forChatham House. In Zimbabwe, some 5,000 farmers have been trained in sesame farming by a private company because they say, it is a cash crop whose seeds are rich in oil and is drought tolerant. Nigeria generates an average of U.S.$1,400 per metric tonne of sesame exported. Sesame seeds, or beni-seeds as they are locally known, are among the most commercially viable crop critical to the agricultural economy of Nigeria. While in Malawi, President Lazarus Chakwera said his government will promote sesame farming as the country yearns for diversification in the agriculture sector.