ACTION PLAN

Sesame or Beniseed is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum, widely neutralized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds which grow in pods.it provides thousands of useful products and support millions of jobs both in  the rural and urban sector of the Nigeria n economy as it moves from the primary producers to the end users .

The primary products are edible oil for human consumption/industrial uses and by-product for livestock feed .Sesame is the second largest non-oil export from Nigeria producing between 10,000 MT in the 1960’s and the early 70’s, 50,000 tons in 1993/94, 64,000MT in the 1996 and 67,000MT in 1997 from 2001-2010 with an average annual growth of 10.34%.Sesame is currently grown in 22 states across the six geopolitical zones  as well as FCT. Current National production is estimated at 80,000kg/ha (100,000-200,000MT) in 2010/2011 cropping season. Average yield of sesame is estimated at 600kg while the average global yield is about 3,662kg (million tons).

1.0 The goals and objectives of sesame transformation plan

The Overall goals:

• Promote policies
• Human capacity building
• Facilitate job creation
• Reduce intergenerational poverty  through income generation  and
• Ensure that Nigeria maintains its substantial role in the global sesame trade.
• These will raise production with certified seeds from 293,000 tons in (2007-2009) to 600,000 tons in 2015 with yield enhancement from 80,000kg/ha (2011) to 120,000kg/ha in 2015.

The primary objectives are:

• To improve Sesame  productivity;
• To expand and improve large scale farm production;
• To produce high quality seed through efficient  cleaning equipment, storage and processing capacity;
• To achieve high yielding seed and oil stability;
• To make the Sesame oil sector a prominent non-oil income and employment generation;
• To develop productive capacity of stakeholders in the value chain and
• To revamp the sector

The sesame transformation programme is aimed at increasing annual productivity from  current 200,00 MT of sesame seed in 2011 to about 600,000MT in 2015.the programme will ensure efficient and effective marketing through a functional public-private partnership(PPP)approach.
Overall, the programme is expected to create 10,000 jobs for states totaling 121,000 jobs nationwide in 2013 and extending to 440,000 direct jobs nationwide. It will as well generate an estimated 40 million US Dollars from export from the 20 million US Dollars in 2011.In order to achieve these, investments in areas of seed production, seed cleaning, deliberate injection of appropriate packaging materials to eliminate contamination and upgrade/activate the existing cleaning mills through the export promotion council

2.0  Sesame as a unique export and industrial crop
Sesame is fast emerging as a potential source of foreign exchange to the nation. Apart from food and snacks, it has diverse economic uses. Its oil is used as substitute for olive oil, salad, cooking oil and for production of margarine, canned beef, sardine, compound cooking fats as well as pharmaceutical, confectionary and cannery industries. From the Global Export estimated at 900,000MT, Nigeria contributes about 80,000MT or 8.85%. Majority of export is from China, India, and Sudan. Nigeria Sesame is quoted both in seed and oil in the international market. The oil attracts as much as USS 4000/ton-USS500/ton against USS450/MT-USS550/MT for seed and USS800-USS1000 for clean seeds (SHF Abuja2005).
In view of the potentials, it is imperative that concerted effort are made by the Government to produce the necessary framework or machinery for both the farmers band researchers to evolve innovations on regular basis hence, the need  for Sesame Transformation programme.
The programme is capable of putting in to expansion about 269,888ha in the 22 States and this is expected to generate about 12100MT of seed valued at 1.234billion naira at the current market price of N102,000/ton. Other areas include development of primary processing equipment needed  to add value at the farm level  and improving the quarterly and efficiency of equipment needed to add value at the farm level  and improving the quarterly and efficiency of equipment  presumably used in processing secondary production level.

3.0 Sesame research development
Over 20 institutions in over 76 countries are engaged in sesame production research. The largest members of researchers are engaged in the fields of breeding and genetics, entomology and agronomy.
In Nigeria most of the research and development activities undertaken on Sesame improvement have centered on the aspect of continuous generation of new and superior sesame variety for injection in to the National Seed Programme. The National Research Institute with the mandate for genetic improvement of Sesame is the National Cereal Research Institute, Baddegi, Niger State which has developed and released improved varieties  like NCRIBEN 03L, E-8.
Nigeria recorded a significant point in the history of Sesame production and research.

4.0 Factors militating against Sesame production in Nigeria
4.1 In order to improve the quality of and output of Sesame, the following challenges would need to be addressed and fixed.
Lack of production data: This is the most important area in the production, which attracts little or no attention at all from Nigerian farmers. As a result, they cannot plan and project production and export.
Lack of improved seeds: China produced an average of 2.8tons /ha, Sudan 2 tons/ha, Ethiopia 1.75 tons/ha while Nigeria produced an average of 800kg/ha resulting from non -availability of high yielding, non-shattering and disease and pest resistant varieties. There is no bridge between Nigerian Sesame seed farmers and the research institutes.
Poor extension service providers: State Agricultural Development Agencies needs to be repositioned towards promoting quality services to the rural sesame seed farmers, however, the Agricultural extension workers needs to be empowered technologically in order to give quality service to the rural farmers.
Lack of multiplication centers: We need to identify and empower seed producers whose duty will be to produce for commercial farmers .this will enhance the uniform seeds while planting and increase our rural farmers yield per hectare.
Lack of constant training: Sesame farmers lack the knowledge on good agronomic practices which results to low famer’s income.
Crude method of harvesting: Most farmers harvest by pulling the sesame plant, while winnowing is also done on bare ground. This results in high level of impurities and several contaminations thereby decreasing the market /export quality.
Lack of good transit storage facilities: Most sesame farmers usually keep the cleaned seeds in contaminated bags and store them on bare floor.
Other challenges are:

• Lack of common facility for processing.
• Unavailability of common collection centers for clusters marketing.
• Lack of information management system.
• Sharp practices by middle men/farmers.Most marketers still practice informal means of measurement against payment.
• Multiple taxation at the farm-gate and on transit to sea port.
• Effect of pest /diseases on the crop.

5.0 opportunities under sesame industry

• Sesame has a comparative economic advantage as an export/industrial crop within the smallholder farming system.
• Growing environment and genetic material guarantee high yield which gives Nigeria a comparative edge in Africa provided proper organization that can be put in place to assure good quality sesame seed.
• Availability of productive rural labor to support sesame production.
• High employment opportunities in the rural areas from full participation of local farmers.
• Good potential for rural income generation and nutritional enhancement.
• Increased foreign exchange earnings through export.
• Sesame seed is a source for industrial diversification and for improvement in the productivity of the related industries.

6.0 expected output

• Creation of awareness on the opportunities of Sesame production, marketing and utilization in Nigeria.
• Double Sesame production from the present 100,000 tons to 200,000 tons and from 80,000kg /ha to 120,000kg/ha
• Strengthening existing and new value chains of edible oil, high protein sesame cake, by products of livestock feeds, home utilization pharmaceutical/industrial use, production of high quality seeds for export and increase income level of sesame seed farmers.
• Generate employment opportunities at the on-farm level, marketing level/processing and final end users.
• Double contribution of Sesame sub-sector to GDP in Nigeria.
• Improve soil fertility, disease pest/pest resistant varieties high yielding generic varieties.
• Reduce effect of pest, disease and fungi affecting pods and seeds.
• Formation of cluster groups /cooperative groups of sesame farmers for effective programme implementation and mentoring.
• Formation of sesame producers and marketing /processing association for quick access to government intervention.
• A significant improvement in the use of appropriate insecticide, pesticides and herbicides in Sesame production.
• Input dealers become k knowledgeable about input requirement for high yielding and disease resistant sesame varieties.

7.0 implementation strategy
Sesame value Chain implementation will beat both the Federal and State levels with experts drawn from relevant agencies and partners that have the mandate for these activities under the value chain. The Federal Department of Agriculture through the Sesame Value Chain Desk that overseas promotion of Sesame shall in the 22 Sesame producing states /Regional Office and the headquarters to anchor the programme.

8.0 value chain actors/partners:
The programme is a Private Sector Driven to be marketed using the following established institutions namely: farmer’s processors and seed merchants. Others include:

• Sesame farmers and marketers Association
• Research Institutions like NCRI, NSS, IAR and others that has mandate for certified seed and seed multiplication.
• Private Sector:

• OLAM Nigeria Ltd
• Akkay Ltd
• Dangote Ltd
• Dantela Ltd

• Public Support Institutions: NEXIM Bank, CBN, BOA and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NIPC),National Association of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(NACCIMA),State ADPs.