GUJARAT/INDIA – Sesame seed farmers believe that summer sesame seeds are likely to be sweeter and have a good quality crop due to the rising temperature.
Although the earlier unpredictable weather was a concern for the sesame farmers, the current temperature has brought a respite to them. In Amreli and Junagadh area, the sesame leaves also appear, and the seed taste will be better this time if there is no rain or sudden weather change for the next fortnight.
In the backwater region, the last phase of irrigation is still going. Farmers believe that the earlier adverse weather will, however, impact the average yield of the crop.
The summer sesame plantation has also helped the market move up to $0,25 per kg. According to the farmers, the temperature increase is making the seeds ripen early.
It is said that generally, black sesame seeds take 100 days to ripen, but the temperature had decreased during the ripening days, and by late April and early May, the early ripeness is gone.
Some farmers are also concerned that the higher temperature can bring in drought, which will result in lower production. Hence despite the increased planting this season, the weather will impact the production. Also, the higher temperature is expected to give the first round of crops early in the market.
Price Trend
Currently, the market is holding stable for both white and black sesame seeds after it experienced a drop on the second day of the month. As a result, the last price increase was observed only for the white-natural varieties in the first week of March. Since then, there has been a downward trend in the market despite India bidding successfully for fulfilling 9000 tonnes of the Korean tender last month.
It remains to be seen how the new crop arrival will position the market later.