Sesame Seeds

Overview

Ethiopian sesame seeds rank as the number one oilseed in the horn of Africa country in production margins. With a 2017 monetary conversion of $388.6 million, Ethiopian sesame ranked only second to coffee as the biggest agricultural export from the nation. By 2018, the figure had climbed to $449 million. Globally, the country is among the top ten producers, a prestige that has occasioned the phrase that ‘Ethiopia has the best sesame seed in the world.’

Sesame Varieties

Sesame varieties in Ethiopia go up to 14 distinct types. The most famous two include Wollega and Humera-1. Sesame Humera is a key crop in Gondar. It has the highest oil content of between 54 and 56 percent. Its seed coat is white or ashen-colored. It requires just 600 to 100 mm of rainfall annually to thrive. Wollega, on the other hand, meets almost the same oil capacity yield and is therefore great for oil production. It also makes tahini paste.  

Seasonality

Ethiopia sesame is in a class of its own in both production and popularity terms. In 2014, the country produced 14 percent of the world supplies of the oilseed, a trend that may continue with more government initiatives in the sector. Most world importers go for the raw seeds to make tahini, a culinary product of the oilseed.

The top exported Sesame Crops for 2 consecutive years are the Humera and Wollega Type, with the export quantity for 2020/2021 being 134,592 & 43,286 Metric Tons, respectfully.