The United Nations World Food Programme welcomed a donation of R90 million from the government of Japan to support 37 000 smallholder farmers wrestling with the effects of climate challenges in five districts in Zimbabwe. A key feature of the initiative is the promotion of sesame production in the country.According to a report by NGO Africa Watch, the three-year initiative was aimed at the enhancement of food security and resilience through the development of sustainable farming practices and the establishment of strong agricultural systems. This includes the development of water-based infrastructure, value chains and agricultural extension services. Sesame is a crop with significant market potential both in Zimbabwe and internationally. The Japanese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Shinichi Yamanaka, emphasised the role of private sector partnerships in ensuring the project’s success. “Under this project, small-scale farmers will be supported in growing sesame seeds to practise market-oriented agriculture, and a Japanese trading company, Itochu Corporation, is expected to play an important role in completing the value chain of the project,” the report read.The Japanese government also contributed approximately R1,3 million for the construction of sesame storage facilities in the Mwenezi District. This project will support the production, procurement, and value addition of sesame for both domestic and export markets. Sesame is a relatively new crop in Zimbabwe, with the potential to improve household income and resilience in the face of climate change, AFRI Future Research reported. Sesame is regarded as a highly rewarding crop with relatively simple cultivation demands, low production costs and high returns. It is a drought-resistant crop that could survive in arid and semi-arid areas. The crop is, however, sensitive to waterlogging, but tolerant to relatively high temperatures and dry spells.“The potential of sesame production as a livelihood strategy and climate change adaptation option is one that cannot be ignored by development organisations and policymakers. The low labour and input cost make it a low-risk crop that smallholder farmers can engage in without incurring significant losses even if they fail to break even,” the AFRI Future Research report read.