Sesame farmers decry poor prices
Sesame farmers in the Shire Valley have expressed dissatisfaction with this year’s farm gate price for the crop pegged at K1 100 per kilogramme (kg).
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, one of the farmers Simon Mafunga from Kudziwa Village in Senior Chief Ngabu in Chikwawa District said the government’s set minimum price is low as farmers invested more money and time to grow the crop.
He said: “Last year, I grew the crop on 10 acres where I invested K1 million. I harvested 42 bags and realised K3.5 million because some vendors were buying the crop at K1 700 per kg.
“This year, I would have loved the minimum price to be at K2 000 per kg.”
Mafunga said he has grown the crop on 18 acres this year and was optimistic of harvesting 60 bags.
“I invested K3 million, including labour and other hidden costs; hence, pleading with the Ministry of Agriculture to adjust the minimum price,” he said.
Another farmer, Michael Molutali from Chitseko Village in Senior Chief Mlolo in Nsanje District said people now prefer to sell the crop to Pakistanis operating from neighbouring Mozambique and other vendors from Lilongwe and Blantyre.
He said these buy the crop between K1 700 to K2 000 per kg.
In a separate interview, Shire Valley Agricultural Development Division programme manager Taurayi Mulewa said what government offered was just minimum price but farmers were free to sell their crop at higher price.
He said: “This year farmers should expect to make more money because the crop is in high demand in Japan. That is why officials from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency and World Food Programme came to the Shire Valley to meet farmers and discuss how best they can buy the crop.”
Mulewa asked farmers to minimise the use of chemicals to control pests as they compromise the crop’s quality.
Sesame seeds are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are also added to certain foodstuffs to provide a nutty flavour and crunchy texture.
