Despite this success, drought and pest outbreaks are endangering production in the two major sesame-producing regionsMtwara. Farmers in the Lindi and Mtwara regions earned over Sh164 billion from 53,000 metric tonnes of sesame auctioned in the 2022/23 season, according to authorities. However, these achievements are threatened by drought and pest outbreaks in most parts of the two regions that are considered to be major sesame producers.Reports from the regions show that farmers in Lindi Region fetched Sh134.333 billion from 43,472 tonnes of sesame, while their counterparts in Mtwara Region garnered Sh29.669 billion from 9,523 tonnes of the produce.According to the report submitted during the sesame Internal Programme Review (IPR) in November 2022, members of the Lindi Mwambao Cooperative Union (LMCU) had to earn Sh84.230 billion from 27,261 metric tonnes of produce.Furthermore, the report shows that members of Ruangwa, Nachingwea and Liwale Cooperative Union (Runali) were supposed to receive Sh50.103 billion from 16,211 metric tonnes of sesame. “However, Sh129.158 billion had been paid to farmers by the time of tabling this report. While Sh81.050 billion was disbursed to LMCU farmers, Sh48.107 billion was issued to Runali members,” reads part of the report. According to reports, members of Masasi and Mtwara Cooperative Union (Mamcu) in Mtwara Region pocketed Sh27.70 billion from 8,890.19 tonnes, while their Tandahimba and Newala Cooperative Union (Tanecu) counterparts received Sh1.969 billion from 633.32 tonnes of the produce. In Mtwara Region, sesame was traded at a minimum price of Sh3,083 and a maximum price of Sh3,202 per kilogramme in the preceding year.Together with sunflower, groundnut, soy, and palm oils, sesame significantly contributes to the reduction of the edible oil deficit in the country.Outlining the production situation of oil seeds between 2017 and 2021 in Parliament, Dodoma, when tabling the 2022/23 budget last year, the minister for Agriculture, Mr Hussein Bashe, said the country produced 56,846 tonnes and 133,704 tonnes of sesame in 2017 and 2018, respectively. He said the amount of sesame produced in tonnes and their respective production years in brackets are; 227,821 (2019); 228,920 (2020) and 236,162 (2021).However, drought spells reported in some regions have posed threats that most farmers in the regions would witness a decline in production in the 2023/24 season. A sesame farmer in Ruangwa District, Lindi Region, Mr Said Twalib, told The Citizen that dry spells have led to crops withering in most farms in the area. “Both dry spells and pest outbreaks have left us in a dilemma about the fate of our yield this season. We hope that agriculture experts will tell us what exactly is happening this season,” said Mr Twalib. He was supported by his counterpart farmer from Mtwara District, Mr Issa Mwalinga, who said that despite farmers’ efforts to follow and abide by farming directives and guidelines, drought remains a major challenge.“Drought has greatly affected our farms. On top of crops withering, the outbreak of pests has left most farmers without any hope of getting enough yields this season,” he said. An extension officer in Nambali ward, Newala District, Mtwara Region, Mr Modestus Benedict, said that sesame demands high rains during flowering, which are limited this year due to drought. “To prevent farmers from suffering severe losses, research organisations should consider the prospect of creating types that are resistant to disease, pests, and drought,” he said.An agriculture officer in Chibula Ward in Ruangwa District said poor weather will lead to poor yields in the 2023/24 season.Sesame’s national coordinator, Mr Joseph Nzunda, said the challenge of the outbreak of pests has been there every year, noting that farmers need to be educated about control measures.“Having awareness about control measures is one thing, but applying them with accuracy is another thing. Pest control using traditional methods has sometimes led to pests’ resistance,” he said.Regarding the drought, he said several parts of the sesame-growing regions have faced a disastrous drought this season due to poor rains, noting that harvests will be less than farmer’s expectations.“Harvest losses will vary between farmers. Those using traditional varieties should count huge losses as compared to their counterparts using improved seeds that mature within a short period and are significantly resistant to pests,” he said.Furthermore, he said it is recommended that farmers use pesticides in order to control pests in sesame farms, noting however that the use of insecticides after flowering is discouraged. “This is because pesticide application during that period will kill beneficial insects required to support the pollination process. It is therefore important that farmers use pesticides earlier,” he said.“Failure to make early use of pesticides will lead to difficulties in controlling pests. Leaf eaters should be controlled in the early stages,” he added. Furthermore, he said farmers are advised to use improved seeds such as Lindi 202, Ziada 94 and Mtondo 2013.Mr Nzunda said since pesticides recommended for pest control are expensive, the government should see the possibility of including them in the list of inputs provided under the subsidy programme. “This consideration should be made to enable farmers to get better seeds as well as other inputs such as fertilisers, something that will benefit sesame seeds, in the same way, farmers cultivating other crops benefit,” he said.Kilwa District Commissioner (DC) Christopher Ngubiagai said his district produces high-quality seeds because of the education provided to growers on the best farming practises through agriculture and extension officers.“We have enough experts in the district. They have the ability to help a large number of farmers in the district modernise their farming,” he said.“Farmers need to do away with outdated farming practises and adopt modern farming techniques,” he added.