White sesame gives new hope for southern region farmers

Farmers in Lindi and Mtwara regions have grown over 4,000 hectors of white sesame after the discovery of lucrative markets of the crop in China and other foreign countries.

Institutional coordinator of the Amsha Institute of Rural Entrepreneurs East Africa, Omari Mwaimu told The Guardian on Sunday that although they have already cultivated the crop in wide acreage, demand is still high.

Currently white sesame has been cultivated in Kilwa Masoko especially in Somanga village, Ndumbo, Kinjumbi, Miumbu), Lindi district white sesame has also been cultivated in various villages that includes Luchemi, Kinyope, Hoyoyo, while in Nanyumbu district it has been cultivated in Sengereni village.

Through the said acreage, farmers expect to harvest more than 300 tons of sesame that would be sold to businessmen who come to the farms to purchase the crop.

“As AMSHA Institute we express thanks to the Naliendele Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and other researchers where skilled personnel and consultants have managed to transform farmers from believing that they are poor to seeing themselves as potentially rich based on the rich resources they are endowed with.

Right now the majority of farmers in Lindi and Mtwara regions have shifted from traditional farming to commercial farming and right now they have huge market for white sesame crop.

He expressed gratitude to the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro, and Ilonga Agricultural Institute in Kilosa also in Morogoro Region because through their training and consultant services, right now all farmers engaged in this farming, have huge market for what they grow across the country and foreign countries.

The introduction of new technologies from research institutes and other sources has helped farmers to access huge market for the crop, he said.

For farmers willing to join Amsha Institute, right now AMSHA members are a mixture of ordinary, lowly educated and rural dwelling but highly committed, and the highly educated, middle income urban dwellers, who are strongly interested in agriculture and associated activities. AMSHA concentrates its efforts in activities related to mindset change training and the use of sustainable methodologies, technologies and skills.

“We believe that this methodology will strongly demonstrate the potential of the local experts working hand in hand with the local communities and showing their full human commitment towards spearheading changes to bring about development and improve the standard of living of the participating communities,” he said.