Sesame farming is on the rise in Katsina State as local farmers increasingly invest in the high-demand cash crop. Farmers in the region are shifting their focus to sesame due to its profitability, especially amid economic challenges. Harisu Abdullahi, a farmer in Kurfi LGA, shared that sesame has become a valuable crop, serving as both a food source and a financial asset.
Farmers are adopting intercropping techniques to maximize their limited farmland, with sesame included due to its low input costs and high market demand. Abdulkadir Bado Katsina, a local dealer, emphasized that sesame requires minimal fertilizer, making it cost-effective compared to other crops like sorghum and maize.
Abubakar Usman Karfi, CEO of Silvex International Limited, highlighted the crop’s bright prospects, with 95-97% of Nigeria’s sesame produced for export. Nigeria is the second-largest sesame producer in Africa, and key export markets include Japan, China, and India. However, post-harvest losses remain a challenge due to the lack of advanced harvesting methods.
