SESAME, a drought-tolerant oilseed crop prized for its small nutrient-rich seeds used in cooking oil, bakery products, snacks and animal feed, is fast emerging as a strategic export commodity for Zimbabwe and Mozambique, with the two neighbouring countries moving to formalise trade, strengthen value chains and attract fresh investment amid rising international demand. The growing focus on sesame comes as Zimbabwe has intensified efforts to diversify agricultural exports, build climate-resilient value chains and improve incomes for farmers under Vision 2030. The crop took centre stage at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) on Wednesday, where stakeholders under the Zimbabwe-Mozambique Agriculture Value Chain and Trade Development Project (Zim-Moza ATDP) identified sesame as one of three flagship commodities expected to drive bilateral trade, rural incomes and export diversification. The €3,5 million initiative, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in partnership with the two Governments, is targeting sesame, macadamia and tomatoes. Sesame stood out as a high-growth commodity with expanding markets and strong potential for value addition.Besides being sold as seed, sesame can be processed into edible oil, peanut butter alternatives, stockfeed ingredients, soap products and industrial inputs, making it attractive to both farmers and manufacturers. FAO assistant representative for programmes Ms Tendai Munyokoveri, said the project had identified sesame among priority crops capable of transforming cross-border trade between the two countries. “Through a rigorous and consultative process, the project identified three main value chains — macadamia, sesame and tomatoes — as flagship value chains with strong potential to drive bilateral trade, export diversification and rural livelihoods,” she said. Ms Munyokoveri said the broader thrust was to strengthen structured, competitive and compliant agricultural trade while ensuring farmers and small businesses participate in formal markets. “By formalising trade and strengthening competitiveness, we aim to ensure that smallholder farmers, SMEs, women and youth are fully integrated into structured markets,” she said. Mozambique National Project Coordinator Ms Maria Cabral said sesame had become a strategic growth opportunity due to increased production, expanding processing capacity and rising global demand. She said implementation in Mozambique was concentrated in Manica, Sussundenga and Mossurize districts of Manica Province because of their production potential and proximity to key border posts with Zimbabwe. According to experts, sesame is particularly suited to semi-arid regions because it requires less water than many conventional crops, offering Zimbabwean farmers an alternative cash crop in the face of climate change. Mozambique’s own experience has underscored the crop’s commercial value, with officials indicating the country ranked among the world’s leading sesame exporters in 2024.Zimbabwe is now expected to benefit from lessons drawn from Mozambique’s formalisation model as the two countries develop a roadmap for structured sesame trade.The move, officials said, would help curb informal trading, improve standards compliance and unlock higher-value export markets under regional trade frameworks such as SADC and the African Continental Free Trade Area.