Newly harvested black sesame trade bustling in Mandalay market

Black sesame traders do a roaring business in the Mandalay market and they are delighted with high prices at the beginning of the sesame season, said Mandalay traders.
“Those black sesame seeds are successfully cultivated under the irrigation system. They are mainly supplied by Shwebo, Wetlet, YeU and Zigon areas. Last year, black sesame fetched only K185,000 per three-basket bag. The prices soared to K225,000 per bag this year. There is a bustling trade in black sesame in Mandalay,” said U Soe Win Myint, an owner of Soe Win Myint Commodity Depot in Mandalay.
“Both black sesame and white sesame are flowing into the Mandalay market. Those sesame seeds were cultivated with the irrigation network of Mu River. Some are grown with the use of underground water. Black sesame seeds are given green light for exports. Thanks to favourable weather conditions, there is a bountiful harvest in the Shwebo district. White sesame from Kyaukse, Myaung and Myinmu areas are also entering the Mandalay market. The sesame fetches a high price this year. Approximately 95 per cent of sesame is sent to the external market. China is the main buyer of Myanmar’s sesame. The high price of sesame prompted the growers to increase sowing acreage this year across the region,” he elaborated.
Sesame is cultivated in the country throughout the year. Magway Region, which has gained a reputation as the oil pot of Myanmar, is the main producer of sesame seeds. The seeds are also grown in Mandalay and Sagaing regions.
The black sesame, a 100-day crop, can also be grown in sequential cropping agriculture. It has also gained market share in the external market. — Min Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-Printing House)/GNLM