الوصف

Sesame seeds (or sesamum or benniseed) are the seeds of the tropical annual Sesamum indicum. The species has a long history of cultivation, mostly for its yield of oil.

Based on their colour difference, sesame seed in Nigeria can be classified into two (2) types namely the white/raw and black/mixed.

The white varieties are usually regarded as the food grade and used in the bakery industry while the black varieties are referred to as oil grade and used in the production of sesame oil.

Sesame seeds are one of the highly sought-after cash crops in Nigeria. It is second to cocoa in terms of export value. In fact, *0% of the sesame seed produced in the country is exported abroad.

Sesame oil which is extracted from the seeds is useful in the cosmetic industries for producing body lotions and creams. This oil is also used in the production of canned sardine, corned beef, margarine, and soaps. It is also in high demand in bakeries, confectioneries, paint, and pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, the by-products of sesame seeds can be used to make animal feeds.