Karonga agriculture authorities have urged farmers in the district to venture into sesame production to tap into its growing export demand and income potential.
Director of Agriculture Services for Karonga District Council, Youngs Nyirenda, said sesame has emerged as one of the district’s strongest commercial crops, attracting new buyers and improving prospects for structured markets.
He added that despite Karonga being the country’s leading sesame-producing district, most farmers have relied on informal channels, mainly Tanzanian traders, which has limited price competitiveness and farmer earnings.
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“With better market systems taking shape and interest from formal buyers, sesame can give our farmers stronger returns and expand the district’s agricultural export base,” Nyirenda said.
He emphasized that Karonga has vast potential for sesame production, with 1,994 hectares for cultivating the crop and that in the last growing season, the district produced 1,430 metric tons more than double the amount Japan imported from Tanzania.
Nyirenda made the remarks on Thursday after Renaisson Seeds engaged members of the District Agriculture Extension Coordination Committee (DAECC) to unveil a pilot contract farming project that will see 30 hectares at Lupembe Extension Planning Area (EPA) put under sesame production this farming season by selected growers.
Managing Director and Head of Research at Renaisson Seeds, Chimwemwe Josia, said the company’s entry into Karonga responds to farmers struggles to access certified seeds and established markets.
He explained that their aim is to develop the sesame value chain by supporting research, providing agronomy expertise and implementing contract farming.
“By expanding access to certified seeds and staying close to our farmers, we aim to boost food security in the country as sesame is in high demand internationally, and by developing its value chain, we can also generate much-needed foreign exchange for Malawi,” Josia added.
A lead farmer from Mlare under Lupembe EPA, Mavuto Mwalwanda, said that access to certified seeds and guaranteed markets through contract farming will help farmers increase production, earn better income and reduce reliance on middlemen.