Masasi sesame farmers pocket 16bn/-

MTWARA: SESAME growers in Masasi District, Mtwara region, earned 16bn/- in the first auction of the 2025/26 season held two weeks ago.

The Mtwara, Masasi, and Nanyumbu Agricultural Cooperative Union (MAMCU), Vice Chairman, Mr Bakari Ado, said sesame seeds fetched between 2,240/- and 2,600/- per kilogrammes at the first auction conducted by Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX).

“The prices you are celebrating now are a result of the high-quality sesame you brought to the market,” he said during the second auction held recently in Mtwara District, while reiterating the need for growers to continue focusing on seed quality.

TMX auctioned 8,000 tonnes of sesames, mostly of high quality. Mr Ado said Mtwara is known for producing highquality sesame seeds with high oil content, urging farmers to focus on the crop due to its profitability and growing market.

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“One of the reasons Mtwara produces high-quality sesame is its fertile soil and favourable climate,” he said.

The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) Naliendele Central in Mtwara also provides training to farmers on best practices for sesame cultivation.

Speaking during the second auction, some sesame growers said they appreciated the government’s efforts to improve sesame markets and secure better prices.

“We really thank our government for working hard to ensure we farmers have markets for our crop. We used to cultivate sesame for domestic use, but now we do it for cash,” said Ally Tepa, a sesame grower in Mtwara District