Over 2.5 million rainfed hectares of Sudan’s cultivable land is under sesame seed production. Concentrated mainly in the clay plains of east and central Sudan, 53 percent of sesame farming is mechanized. Approximately 77 percent of the area devoted to sesame seed farming in Sudan is in three states: North Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Gedarif.
Why are there pests in Sudan’s sesame seeds?
Pests are a major issue plaguing Sudan’s sesame seed production. The lygaeid bug, or sesame seed bug—found prominently in the clay soils of central Sudan—depletes the seed’s oil content thus reducing overall quality and quantity. Of the seeds that make it to harvest, losses may occur from poor threshing and storage.
Are Sudanese sesame seeds competitive?
Despite these costs, sesame seeds continue to be competitive. On average, 44 percent of sesame seeds produced in Sudan are exported. The main markets for Sudanese sesame seeds are Egypt, the Middle East, and Asia. The US trade sanctions implemented in July 1997 by the Clinton administration restricted trade of all commodities except gum arabic.
Is Sudan re-routing its Sesame supply chain?
The Sudanese military now allegedly controls more than 90 per cent of the disputed areas and security-linked companies and investors have moved into the lucrative sesame sector, re-routing the supply chain, which used to flow largely through Ethiopian markets.