Sesame seed

Sesame Seed, scientifically known as Sesamum indicum L., is an important oilseed crop. With its high-quality oil and protein content (22.0%), it is often called the queen of oil crops. Sesame seeds contain 50-58% oil and utilize in various industries such as food, confectionery, bakery, soaps, perfumes, vegetable oil, and carbon paper. They are deeply rooted in Pakistan’s history. In  2018 Pakistan produced 29 thousand tons of sesame seeds across 176.0 thousand acres. According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics for 2018-19, sesame exports totaled 366 million tons, valued at Rs. 9000 million. Potential areas for sesame cultivation in Pakistan include Punjab (Gujrat, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Attock, Bhakkar, Faisalabad), Sindh (Tharparkar, Dadu, Hyderabad), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Kohat, D.I. Khan), and Balochistan (Naseerabad, Lesbela).