How Nigeria Became a Major Player in Sesame Seed Production.
Sesame seeds are one of the key products that exporters are benefiting from in Nigeria. It’s a product with a reasonable profit margin and low maintenance cost, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to earn foreign currency.
Despite the lack of advanced tools to boost productivity, Nigeria has emerged as one of the top producers of sesame seeds in Africa and ranks among the top 10 globally. This achievement is worth celebrating.
Let’s explore the areas where we can further increase productivity. The chart below shows the area harvested and the output (yield) measured in tonnes per hectare.
In recent years, the largest area harvested was 1,012,730 hectares, with a yield of 0.62 tonnes per hectare in 2017.
To put this into perspective, 1 tonne is roughly equivalent to the weight of 12 people.
Similarly, we can consider 1 hectare as roughly the size of a football pitch, with the largest pitch allowed by FIFA measuring 120m x 90m.
In 2022, we were able to harvest 1.2 tonnes of sesame seeds per hectare. While this may seem low, Nigeria remains one of the top sesame seed producers globally.
It’s like winning a medal at the Paris Olympics without any formal training.
The question now is: How can we better equip our farmers to increase sesame seed production in Nigeria? Let’s examine production trends in previous years in the chart below.
One might assume that increasing sesame seed production means expanding farmland.
Moreover, Nigeria has around 36.9 million hectares of arable land—an area equivalent to 36.9 million football pitches that could be used for agriculture.
A more sustainable approach, however, would be to focus on increasing our yield per hectare rather than expanding farmland.
Instead of producing 1.2 tonnes of sesame seeds per hectare, we should aim for yields comparable to other countries, such as the Central African Republic and Lebanon, which achieve 4.8 and 3.5 tonnes per hectare respectively.
By improving our yields, Nigeria could not only continue to be a key player in the global sesame seed market but also become a dominant force. With vast amounts of arable land and significant room for improving seed quality and farming techniques, the potential is immense.
The map below shows the regions in Nigeria where sesame seeds are sourced.
Ready to Source High-Quality Sesame Seeds?
At Motofa, we specialize in providing premium sesame seeds directly from Nigeria’s top-producing regions. Whether you’re an exporter or an international firm looking to secure a reliable supply of sesame seeds, we have the expertise and resources to meet your needs.
Contact us today via mail at tofa@motofa.com to learn more about our products, discuss your specific requirements, or place an order. Partner with us and benefit from Nigeria’s thriving sesame seed production.
Let’s grow your business together!