Delay‌ ‌in‌ ‌Uganda’s‌ ‌Sesame‌ ‌Seed‌ ‌Harvests‌ ‌in‌ ‌2019‌

Published 2019년 12월 5일

Longer than usual rainfall is causing a delay in the harvest of Ugandan sesame seeds. The farmers are unable to reach their farms and the sesame seeds are rotting in the fields as a result of the heavy rain.

Due to Uganda’s unique climate, there are two planting seasons per year: the first season runs between March and April and the second season between August and September. Harvesting of sesame seeds takes place in June and July for the first season, while the harvest for the second season takes place in November and December. In good years, the sesame crop in the second season is significantly larger than in the first season due to more production area and higher yields in the second season.

Heavy Rainfalls Delay Harvest

This year, there has been a continuation of seasonal rainfalls. Originally, the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) predicted that the current heavy rainfall would continue until mid-October 2019 in the main centers of production of sesame in Uganda.

However, the latest seasonal rainfall outlook predicted that parts of the sesame seed-producing regions were expected to experience heavy rainfall up to around late November. Thereafter, a reduction in the rainfall punctuated with dry conditions is expected to prevail up to cessation appearing around early December. Overall, above average, rainfall was also expected during this season in this region.

But the possibilities of harvesting anything from the farms during November 2019 have been ruled out by farmers because of the current intense rainfall. Roads are impenetrable and farms are water-logged following the heavy rainfalls. The situation has resulted in a delay in the harvest of sesame seeds, which was to start in late November. Instead, farmers are expected to start harvesting sesame seeds from mid-December and the season might last until February 2020 as a result.

Decrease in Quality of Sesame Seeds

Several farmers in Uganda, such as those in the Lamwo district, are worried about losing their harvest this farming season due to the on-going heavy rainfalls. The seeds are being greatly affected by the heavy downpour, as normally they are supposed to be drying at this time. Recent field tours conducted by agricultural officers in some parts of the growing districts indicate that sesame seed grains are indeed rotting away because of too much moisture. The heavy rains are detrimental to post-harvest handling and storage.

The delay in the harvest season means that exports of sesame seeds will be delayed as well. Furthermore, if the rain has indeed affected the quality as expected, there will be fewer sesame seeds available for export as well. Exports are therefore expected to be seriously affected by these rains. Uganda mainly exports to China and Turkey.