Sesame Production in Somalia

Sesame is a vital agricultural product in Somalia, both for domestic consumption and export. Other widely cultivated crops in the country include sorghum, maize, beans, rice, and sesame. However, the production of these crops, especially sesame, which is one of the most important commercial crops in the region, is affected by various natural and human-related factors.

These factors include rainfall variability, land ownership issues, harvesting and post-harvest practices, seed quality, and weaknesses in the value chain. The current production system is influenced by traditional farming practices, agricultural support policies, and the extension services implemented (Abdullahi, 2023).

Most sesame cultivation areas are in Sudan with 5.2 million hectares, followed by India with 1.52 million hectares, Myanmar with 1.5 million hectares, Tanzania with 0.96 million hectares, Nigeria with 0.62 million hectares, and Ethiopia with 0.45 million hectares. In terms of global sesame production, Sudan holds a significant share of 22.42%, followed by Myanmar (10.9%), India (9.67%), Tanzania (10.4%), Nigeria (7.2%), and Ethiopia (3.8%) (FAO, 2020).

In recent years, the trends in sesame production worldwide and in Somalia have changed significantly. In 1980, sesame was grown on 6,250,366 hectares worldwide and produced 1,733,274 tons with an average yield of 2773 kg/ha. The index value for this year is set at 100. In Somalia, sesame was grown on 83,000 hectares, yielding 38,400 tons, with a yield of 4627 kg/ha, also indexed at 100.

In 2015, global sesame cultivation was expanded to 10.08 million hectares, producing 5.52 million tons, with an improved yield of 5471 kg/ha. In the same year, 80,000 hectares of sesame were produced in Somalia, yielding 36,000 tons with an average yield of 4500 kg/ha.

The global area under cultivation will increase further to 14.15 million hectares, producing 6.83 million tons with a yield of 4828 kg/ha. In Somalia, however, sesame was grown on 74,119 hectares, producing 33,626.96 tons with a yield of 4537 kg/ha.

By 2021, the global area under sesame cultivation will slightly decrease to 12.51 million hectares, with a total production of 6.35 million tons and a yield of 5081 kg/ha. In Somalia, sesame was grown on 75,727 hectares and yielded 33,975.78 tons with an average yield of 4487 kg/ha.

The low productivity of sesame in Somalia is due to smallholder agriculture and an underdeveloped production system. Farmers tend to rely on extensive production systems rather than intensive farming, which results in lower output regardless of farm size (Abdullahi, 2023).

Table 1. “Sesame Cultivation Area, Yield, and Production Worldwide and in Somalia,” provides detailed data on the trends in sesame cultivation, yield, and production.

World				Somalia
	Harvested Area (ha)	Production / ton	Yield kg/ha	Harvested Area (ha)	Production (tons)	Yield kg/ha	Index  (1989=100)
1980	6250366	1733274	2773	83000	38400	4627	100
1985	6867938	2308730	3362	109200	56700	5192	112
1990	6131261	2378530	3879	100000	45000	4500	97
1995	6434412	2521088	3918	73000	25000	3425	74
2000	7509069	2859283	3808	54682	23000	4206	91
2005	7312521	3400701	4651	61908	29011	4686	101
2010	8226453	4323395	5255	51196	26392	5155	111
2015	10082982	5516868	5471	80000	36000	4500	97
2017	11119662	5715200	5140	80000	36000	4500	97
2018	11736843	5899203	5026	80000	36000	4500	97
2019	12970937	6580491	5073	80000	36000	4500	97
2020	14154515	6833335	4828	74119	33626	4537	98
2021	12507504	6354477	5081	75727	33975	4487	97

FAOSTAT; 2023.

The below table highlights Somalia’s ranking in sesame production within Africa based on data from 2020. In terms of cultivated area, Somalia ranks as the 12th largest country in Africa. Similarly, in terms of production, it holds the 15th position. This reflects Somalia’s position in sesame production and indicates its performance in this sector.

Table 2. “Top Sesame-Producing Countries and Harvested Areas in Africa (2020)”.

	Harvested Area in Africa (2020)		Sesame Production in Africa (2020)
	Country	Harvested Area (ha)	Country	Production (ton)
1	Sudan	5,173521	Sudan	1525104
2	Tanzania	96,0000	Tanzania	710000
3	Nigeria	62,1413	Nigeria	490000
4	South Sudan	60,8159	Burkina Faso	270000
5	Burkina Faso	450,000	Ethiopia	260258
6	Chad	392,241	Chad	202074
7	Ethiopia	369,897	South Sudan	189721
8	Mozambique	283,911	Uganda	146000
9	Uganda	215,000	Mozambique	132000
10	Niger	171,170	Niger	88189
11	Mali	79,018	Cameroon	70000
12	Somalia	73,769	Egypt	38000
13	Central African Republic	64926	Senegal	36110
14	Cameroon	54000	Mali	35191
15	Egypt	45200	Somalia	33568

FAOSTAT; 2020

The export of agricultural and livestock products represents the largest share of Somalia’s export revenues. The three types of animals that Somalia exports are sheep/goats, camels, and cattle. Somalia’s non-animal exports include categories such as animal leather products, agricultural products, bananas, sesame, vegetable oils, timber products, and others. In 2021, the main products exported by Somalia’s local economy were animals ($103,265,600.00), agricultural products and vegetable oils ($19,566,966.67), and other exports ($15,004,452.00).

These products accounted for 92.39% of the total exports. According to FAO statistics, Somalia exported 17,059 tons of sesame in 2020 and continues to strive to maintain its position as the largest producer and exporter of sesame in the world. Market challenges may have affected the sesame trade in Somalia. (Figure 1) shows the low export volume and value between 2015 and 2020. Despite high sesame production, low export volumes were achieved, which may be due to a lack of agricultural support, policy deficiencies, market-related issues, and other challenges.

Figure 1. Foreign trade (export) volume of Somali Sesame.

Source: FAOSTAT. 2020.

As of 2014, Somalia was the 12th largest producer of sesame in the world, making it a key player in the global sesame trade. Despite major constraints such as civil conflicts, lack of investment, and insufficient policy regulations, sesame production in Somalia has increased sevenfold since 1991. In 2014, Somalia’s sesame revenue amounted to $280 million USD, which represented 5.25% of the country’s GDP of $5.71 billion.

In 2018, Somalia exported approximately $300 million USD worth of sesame, oil, and other products to Middle Eastern countries, China, and India. According to FAO statistics, the total export quantity increased from 7,478 tons in 2012 to 46,102 tons in 2014, reflecting an average growth of 516%. In terms of value, the sesame export value showed an average growth of 789% between 2012 and 2014 (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Sesame export volume, export value and Export Unit value in Somalia

Source: FAOSTAT. 2020.

The first sesame import occurred in 2006, and it continued irregularly until 2009. During these years, the import quantity was 190,000 tons, with a value of $110,000 (Figure 3). After 2014, imports began to be made regularly each year, and the foreign trade of sesame has consistently resulted in a trade deficit.

Figure 7. Sesame imports in Somalia

Source: FAOSTAT. 2020.

Reference

Abdullahi, 2023. Improvements of Sesame Production: Marketing and its Export Trends in Somalia. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371280145_Improvements_of_Sesame_Production_Marketing_and_its_Export_Trends_in_Somalia

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2020). FAOSTAT Database. Rome, Italy: FAO. Retrieved August 18, 2020. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home
(PDF) Improvements of Sesame Production: Marketing and its Export Trends in Somalia. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371280145_Improvements_of_Sesame_Production_Marketing_and_its_Export_Trends_in_Somalia [accessed Nov 17 2024].FAOSTAT; 2023. Sesame Cultivation Area, Yield, and Production Worldwide and in Somalia,” provides detailed data on the trends in sesame cultivation, yield, and production