Sesame seed output may rise 16% despite low rainfall

The output of sesame seed is estimated to rise 16 per cent during the ongoing kharif season despite less rains during the season. The output is estimated at 360,000 tonnes as compared with 310,000 tonnes in the previous season.

Of this, the production of white sesame seed is estimated at 300,000 tonnes as compared to 260,000 tonnes in the previous kharif season. While the output of black and other colour seeds is estimated to be at 60,000 tonnes as against 50,000 tonnes last year. The crop harvesting begins in the last week of September and continues till the first week of November.

According to some Rajasthan-based traders, farmers in the state who could not sow guarseed due to less rain switched to sesame seed. Therefore, the acreage increased by almost 20 per cent to 5.2 lakh hectares (ha) as against the normal area of 4-4.25 lakh ha. The total area under the crop is estimated to have risen 15.2 per cent across the country, to 16.92 lakh ha, as against 14.69 lakh ha last year.

A survey conducted by the Pune-based Symbiosis Institute reveals that the sowing area has significantly declined in Gujarat as farmers waited for rain till the end of July and then sowed cotton. “Apparently, realization on cotton was better than sesame seed last year which also lured farmers to divert area to cotton,” said Sanjay Shah, Chairman, Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC).

The rabi season ending February 2009 witnessed an output of 285,000 lakh tonnes of sesame seed, of which white (premium) quality consisted of 200,000 tonnes.

Nilesh Vira, vice chairman, IOPEPC said, “Sesame seed does not require much water. A decent amount of rain in the beginning and intermittent during the 85-90 days of plant period is sufficient for a bumper crop.” Traders felt that sesame seed is currently in various stages of maturing in Gujarat where farmers are reluctant to get 15-20 per cent additional yield from the average 287 kg per hectare last year.