Increasing sesame production leads to increased incomes
Sesame Marketing Project
Following on from the success of our initial work with sesame farmers living in northern Tanzania's Babati district we are embarking on a second phase. We will continue to build the skills and knowledge of the 920 farmers we are already working directly with, as well as building the capacity of the 4,600 additional farmers that they have shared their learning with. New activities will also include training ten key farmers to reproduce the most successful seed varities so that we can ensure a good supply long into the future.
Rising food prices continue to make life difficult for farmers living in Mbugwe division of Babati district. Farmers who survive by growing cash crops such as sunflowers, maize, cotton and sesame have been unable to earn enough money from their crops to buy food and household goods. Sesame is well suited to dry conditions, and it even adds nutrients to the soil so it helps the performance of other crops. Thanks to the high national and international demand it can be sold for a good price at market.
FARM-Africa is helping farmers in Mbugwe division to grow a bigger, higher quality sesame crop, as well as connecting them to suitable markets for their crop and helping them to set up bulk storage facilities.
How will communities benefit?
- Ten farmers will be given specialist training to become seed producers. They will reproduce the two most successful seed varieties identified in phase one of the project to ensure that local farmers affordable, permanent access to them.
- One ½ acre demonstration plot will be established per Farmer Production Group (FPG). FARM-Africa will also use the plot as a practical demonstration site to train group members in improved farming techniques.
- The FPGs will receive the latest sesame market information, price trends, buyer locations, seed prices and export prices on a monthly factsheet from FARM-Africa. By the end of the two year project, members of the FPGs will have been trained to provide this information to their communities.
- The FPGs are trained in sesame production, harvesting, sorting, grading and packaging as well as quality assurance. They will also be provided with equipment to measure the weight of sesame and well as checking the oil and moisture content.
- One storage centre will be built per 12 farmer groups. This will enable the FPGs to store their sesame in bulk, as well as sorting and grading it.
- FARM-Africa will be supported by the district council agriculture department and various research centres that will provide the improved seeds.
Who are we helping?
We are working directly with 46 Farmer Production Groups, each formed of 20 farmers (10 women and 10 men). As each group member will be responsible for sharing what they have learnt with a further five farmers, the project will reach a further 4600 people and their families.
Project partners
FARM-Africa is working together with the district councils of Babati district, the NGOs FAIDA MaLi and SNV (Netherlands Development Organisation), research institutions such as ARI–Ilonga, Selian Agricultural Research Centre and the Natural Resources Institute; and private sector companies such as FIDA Hussein & Company, Mohammed Enterprises and Biosustain.
Sesame Marketing Project
Basilisa’s story
Basilisa Emmanuel is a 42 year old farmer living in Tanzania. She struggled to grow plentiful, high quality sesame on her land and to sell it for a good price. With a small harvest to sell, she often found herself unable to buy sufficient food to feed her six children.
Basilisa was chosen by her fellow community members to become part of FARM-Africa’s sesame 
project. She joined the Sangaiwe village sesame marketing group when it was set up in her village in February 2009 and has been appointed as the interim group secretary. She is taking responsibility for arranging the meetings, taking minutes and keeping records of the group activities. The group will soon receive sesame training from FARM-Africa, after which she hopes to be appointed secretary on permanent basis.
At the moment Basilisa is harvesting her ¾ acre sesame plot, which was planted with traditional varieties. FARM-Africa is supporting Basilisa in marketing her current crop, helping to ensure that she gets the best possible price for it. She hopes that she will have a harvest of 3 bags (60kg each).
Basilisa has also received some improved seeds from FARM-Africa to plant during the next cropping season. She is hoping that her group will receive help to build a storage centre over the coming months so that they can store their improved sesame in bulk and sell it together for a much higher price.
With a better income from her sesame crop, Basilisa hopes to be able to afford the school fees her children need to start attending school - as well as providing a healthy diet for her growing children.
Sesame seeds distributed to 920 farmers in Tanzania
By October 2011, FARM-Africa aims to help 920 sesame farmers in Babati, Tanzania, to increase their income by 25%. In recent months these farmers have received sesame seeds from FARM-Africa and training in how to plant them.
Sesame Farmers in northern Tanzania prepare for planting season
In Sangaine village, northern Tanzania, sesame farmers are about to start preparing their land ready for planting in December. They will be hoping for a good sesame harvest next May so that they can sell their produce at market and earn enough income to feed their families.
Training is well underway at sesame marketing project
Between April and June this year, 425 farmers in 12 villages that are taking part in the sesame marketing project in Manyara region, north east Tanzania received training from FARM-Africa.
New Tanzania Sesame Marketing project gets underway
The Sesame Marketing Project began in November 2009. Initially villagers from the 23 villages involved will choose community members who are most at need to take part in the project. There will be two farmer producer groups per village, each formed of 10 men and 10 women. The groups will receive training in farming techniques, as well as having the opportunity to test new, hardier varieties of seeds. Click here to read more.
