Sesame Cultivation in India – A Profitable Oilseed Farming Guide

Sesame requires well drained soil with a pH ranging between 6 to 7. The ideal temperature to grow sesame is between 25 - 35 °C. It is a tropical crop which requires a rainfall between 450 – 500 mm.

Clearing the field is an important step before you start the cultivation process. Plough the field twice with a cultivator or thrice with MB plough. Break the clods with a rotavator to get fine tilth.

Choose high quality seeds for better yield. Ensure that you are choosing the right variety of seeds as per your climate and soil requirements. Treat the seeds with Carbendazim @ 2g/kg of seeds.

It can be cultivated in both Kharif and Rabi seasons. For the Kharif season, the suitable sowing period is from June to July whereas, for the Rabi season, the best sowing time is October to November.

The recommended seed rate of sesame cultivation is 5 kg / hectare. Sow the seed in lines and mix seeds with sand @ 1:4 ratio and drop in furrows at 3 cm depth at 30 X 30 cm spacing.

The application of fertilizers should be done based on the soil testing. Before the last ploughing, spread FYM or composted coir pith or compost @ 12.5 t/ha then plough and incorporate it.

The soil should be consistently moist but not waterlogged. Irrigate immediately after sowing followed by irrigation at 5-7 days after sowing.

Different pests and diseases, such as leaf webber, leaf hopper, aphids, etc., can damage the Sesame crop. Thus, absorbing symptoms timely will help in managing the pest and diseases more efficiently.