Risk Management Agency extends sesame pilot program coverage
The American Sesame Growers Association welcomed the announcement by the USDA’s Risk Management Agency that the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance pilot program for sesame will expand its coverage area starting in 2019.
According to RMA, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors approved the expansion of the Sesame Pilot Program to 36 counties and approved a further expansion of coverage available to sesame growers via written agreements. The counties covered are in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
“We appreciate RMA’s actions to expand this vital risk management tool. It’s an important piece of the puzzle for both farm management and the growth of the domestic sesame industry,” said Jerry Riney, Production Manager for Sesaco and an industry representative on the ASGA Board.
The sesame pilot program was authorized by the 2008 farm bill. Total contracted acres in 2018 are more than double what they were in 2009 and 2010 prior to the pilot program’s implementation in 2011 demonstrating importance of crop insurance coverage.
“There’s a big demand for U.S. grown sesame, here and in the global market” said Sid Miller, commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture. “Looking ahead, sesame will be an important crop for Texas farmers and farmers all across the South,” he added.
Over the past 5 years, the compound annual growth rate in U.S. demand for sesame has been 7 percent on a raw seed basis. Sesame is used in bakery and confectionery applications, crushed for oil and processed into tahini, a key ingredient needed for hummus which has seen explosive growth in the consumer market.
