Investigation on the distribution of sesame variety and current status of sesame production in mani̇sa province

The vegetable oils are important in the human diet. The production of vegetable oils, such as sunflower, soybeans, rapeseed, cotton and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) are important industrial crops with large growing areas in the world and in Turkey as well. Sesame, in general is consumed as tahini, halvah, and also in the bakery products in Turkey. Sesame is grown as main crop and also the second crop following wheat and barley production in Turkey. Aegean Region is the most important sesame production area with 12816 ha production area, which corresponds to 43,2 % of the total harvested area of Turkey. In 2014, Manisa is the leading province with 2443 tons in the sesame production of the Aegean Region. The purpose of this study is to investigate current status and problems of sesame cultivation in Manisa. The survey was carried out in Köprübaşı, Kula, Salihli, Demirci, Gördes, and Selendi districts of Manisa province. Multi-stage Sampling Method was used in the study and data collected through a survey of 90 sesame growers. The data showed that, local varieties or landraces are used in the sesame production in Manisa as in all over Turkey. In this research, harvesting and threshing were found to be the most important problems in sesame production. Lack of certified seed use, unsuitable soil preparation and planting techniques, low sesame price, and marketing problems are the most important factors which limits the production and farmers income. These problems were followed by weed control, diseases, and pests.