Yobe Sesame Farmers Excited, Vow To Leverage on Newly Established Processing Hubs
By Mala Abdulazeez
Yobe State Government says it has expended about N3.5 billion for the building of four Ultra-Modern Sesame Seeds Factories, and the procurement of the seedlings Cleansing,
Processing and Packaging Machines in the State.
The State Commissioner of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Hon. Kaigama Umar made the disclosure during an inspection tour to one of the sesame hubs in Machina LGA.
Interacting with Journalists, the commissioner said the State Governor Mai Mala Buni approved the contract for the Supply, Installation and Operation of Four (4) Sesame Seeds cleaning and packaging machines in Damaturu, Nguru, Potiskum and Machina local government areas.
Hon. Umar said establishment of the industries would boost agricultural activities, create thousands of jobs and encourage sesame farmers across the state.
He explained that the state government is interested in assisting its citizens, generate revenue and the industry has the capacity of processing Six (6) tones per/hour.
Sesame is cultivated in large quantities in Nguru, Geidam, Bursari, Machina, Jakusko, Tarmuwa, Yusufari, Potiskum, Yunusari,
Damaturu, Nangere, Gashu’a, Gujba and Gulani Local Government Areas of Yobe State.
Most of the sesame seed produced in Nigeria are exported to countries like Qatar, South Korea and other global market spaces.
Reactions Of Sesame Farmers
Sesame farmers in Yobe State have expressed Joy over the establishment of Sesame processing plants for a standard method of packaging, exportation, marketing, foreign exchange earnings and improved revenue.
The Farmers commended the efforts of the State Government for its interventions, aimed at raising annual sesame production in the state to over 60,000 tons.
One of the Farmers in Machina Kabir Umar, told Radio Nigeria that the establishment of the industries are timely and Yobe as a major producers of sesame seed deserves more.
He explained that before the establishment of the hubs, farmers transport their seeds to other states for cleaning and processing.
”Before the establishment of this industry, we used to take our sesame seeds to Kano and another part of the country where they have this machines .
”We are the major producer of sesame crops in the country, but should we take it somewhere, this is the reason why, we are thanking the state government for establishing it.
”We are calling farmers from other parts of the country to come and take advantage of this industry to clean, process and package their seeds for exportation”
Another sesame farmer in Machina, Bashir Muhammad explained that the established industries would create more jobs in the State and encourage Small Scale Farmers,
‘‘With these industries, we will stop exporting jobs out of Yobe State because when you harvest your sesame, you have to take the seed to another state to clean in some industries out of the state.
‘‘Once you do the cleaning here, you provide the jobs to both youths and women and the industries would also maintain the standards to meet the quality parameters of the destination market, to prevent rejection at the delivery locations”
These industries are expected to reposition Yobe as a major supplier of sesame seeds, create wealth and gainful employment to youths, and improve internally generated revenue for the state.
Yobe State currently exports about 500,000 tonnes of sesame seed to other countries.
