Olam Agri, IFAD, others partner to build sustainable sesame supply chain

Olam Agri has signed a Letter of Intent with Kadoya Sesame Mills Inc., the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and MC Agri Alliance at TICAD 9, held recently in Yokohama.

The partnership will support Nigerian smallholder farmers with programmes that raise productivity, improve quality and enhance environmental sustainability in sesame farming, according to a publication on the organization’s website.

By working together, the four organizations aim to build a more stable and higher-quality sesame supply chain for consumers and food producers worldwide.

“The initiative will focus on empowering farmers through access to training, mechanization, and sustainable practices, while strengthening market linkages that improve both livelihoods and long-term resilience.

“Senior leaders from each organization, including Olam Agri Senior Vice President Sanjeev Sharma, attended the signing ceremony.

“This commitment is especially significant given the market context. Japan relies almost entirely on imported sesame, and Nigeria has long been its largest exporter.

“Yet local production faces challenges from climate variability and regional instability, even as global demand for sesame oil continues to rise.

“Building a resilient and sustainable supply chain, therefore, requires coupling improved processing and quality standards with direct support for farmer livelihoods, which is the central focus of this partnership”, the statement read.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.