Commodity chain : SESAME

Background history of the project

The human adventure starts 20 years ago in Africa with the creation and the implementation of the sesame channel. An organic sesame channel is then implemented in Mali as of 2000 to diversify the supply sources. Huilerie Emile NOEL was the first operator to get the organic certification in Mali. The ORGANIC FAIR TRADE certification is granted in 2003, thanks to a long standing presence and to the in depth actions taken.

Local Partners

OHVN (Office National de la Haute Vallée du Niger) Northern areas of Bamako.

MOBIOM (Mouvement Biologique Malien) Southern Areas of Bamako.

Context

Production areas suffer from the harsh climate of Sahel (low pluviometry, average temperatures higher than 30°C (85°F). Following the collapse of the cotton channel due to US and Indian competition some twenty years ago, sesame appears as a long term alternative, well adapted to the region. It is easily grown and easily finds its place in crop rotations (cotton, mil, sorghum, teak, sousoun, ...). It yields some 120Kg per acre. Sesame is used as edible seeds, which grow as cloves, and for its oil.

Stakes

Sesame represents most of the revenues for growers of bush country villages. Its cultivation is easy and the selling program developed via the ORGANIC FAIR TRADE channel have made it a success. The local impact is very important and the number of producers involved call for a strong organisation, able to provide the technical follow-up to all groups and to guarantee the purchase of the production in all villages, as of the first harvest.

Program Description

The project is based on transparency and mutual respect around stable and fair cooperation. Contracts are signed with our partners which guarantee stable revenues and foster a sustainable development. Meetings are held every year with the producers to guarantee the volumes and the minimum selling price able to make the work attractive. 20% pre-financing is organised on all purchases. Taken together, the guarantees allow for the production of a top quality product, for continuous fairness of transactions and for the respect of man and his environment.

Huilerie Emile Noël has implemented innovative processes for its partners such as implementation of 25 GPS and of a winnowing machine to eliminate impurities from the seeds. Seeds are supplied by OHVN, which guarantees the purity of seeds and credits are granted to producers for the purchase of tarpaulins (winnowing on the ground).

Nine mills have been given to the producers by OHVN as part of the fair trade deal. The mills allow for the production of flour (mil, sorghum) and for the production of raw shea butter.

A reforestation campaign financed by Huilerie Emile Noel allowed to train and equip 20 tree nurseries. Producers purchase forest species such as baobabs, African Mahogany, and Hennas which are used to create groves, to enrich forests around villages and to grow hedges around the gardens.

At an environmental level the project helps to fight against desertification and safeguards the fertility of soils through better know-how.

Companies being engaged in this commodity chain

Huilerie Emile Noël, LABORATOIRES E.V. ROIG