India: Why sesame farming is a good alternative to paddy as a second crop

Sesame is an important oil-yielding crop having an oil content of 40-50% and is popularly known as Gingelly or Til. It is cultivated as a Kharif crop in India. The sesame seeds powder & its oil are used in various Indian dishes as a flavoring agent. It has been found that the area under sesamum- cultivation has been rising for the past three seasons and the farmers are getting the benefits. Although it took him some time to feel confident about the crop and because of good past experience, this year too they’re likely to increase the area under the crop. The Centre government has clearly expressed its views and made it clear that it was not possible to purchase all Paddy grown in the state. The State government has been motivating the farming community to shift from paddy cultivation and advised all agricultural officers to generate awareness among farmers. At numerous places, farmers are asking the visiting officials directly about the alternate crops and about their ...