The state is expected to harvest 230,000 tons of grain, almost 20% less than in the last cycle; falling prices have reduced the planted area. When the sesame seed pods begin to open, it's a sign that harvest time has arrived. But time is short. Because the seed is light and loose inside the pod, any strong wind can cause losses in the field. “Because it’s a very light seed, it remains loose inside the capsule. So, if there’s a slightly stronger wind, the wind itself will carry the seed out. When the humidity is right and it’s ready to harvest, you have to take advantage of it to try and extract as much as possible and not waste any,” explains producer Cleiton Frigo. The sesame cycle lasts approximately 120 days. After this period, the stem, leaves, and seeds are dry. It is at this point that dehiscence occurs, a phenomenon in which the capsules naturally open to release the seeds. The estimate is that the average productivity will be 600 kilograms of sesame per hectare. Last year, the producer managed to harvest up to one ton per hectare. “Due to the weather, there was a lot of rain. It was an adverse year and there was a lot of disease. I believe most of it was due to fungal diseases. The genetics of the seed also deteriorate because it gets very diseased. It ends up producing less, forming fewer capsules, and therefore yields less grain and fewer kilograms per hectare,” says Cleiton. Mato Grosso is the state that produces the most sesame in the country. The forecast is that 230,000 tons of the grain will be harvested this season, a volume almost 20% lower than that recorded in the last cycle. In addition to lower productivity, the cultivated area was also reduced. Nine percent less was sown than in the previous season. The drop is mainly linked to the price. The price per kilo of sesame seeds, which was above R$ 4 at the beginning of the last season, has fallen to as low as R$ 3 in some regions. “We saw a reduction in prices last year, partly due to Brazil entering the global market with a very significant volume. The country went from being practically marginal in terms of world production to becoming a very important player overnight. Other countries didn't adjust their volume to the fact that Brazil was entering the market,” explains agricultural technician Thiago Rosa.According to him, Brazil's entry into the international trade with a large volume of products put pressure on prices. “If the global market trades between 2 million and 2.3 million tons annually, and Brazil contributes 400,000 tons, it makes a significant difference and ultimately lowers the average price. During last year's harvest, we saw prices falling, and this discouraged producers from planting,” Thiago adds. Even with the downturn, those who planted this season already had a specific destination for their produce. According to the Brazilian Institute of Beans and Pulses, almost 100% of producers planted knowing who they would deliver the grains to after the harvest. This is the case of producer Leandro Lodea, who already has the machines working in the field and in the factory, where the processing takes place. From there, the main destination is the foreign market. “From 99% to 99.5% goes to export. The main countries today are China, India and Turkey. There, this product is transformed into oil or tahini, depending on the country and the purpose,” explains Leandro. With strong international demand, sesame remains an alternative for producers in Mato Grosso, especially in areas where traditional crops, such as corn, have experienced increased production costs.