Unlocking the promise of sesame ( <i>Sesamum indicum</i> L.) industry in Africa: Economics, opportunities, obstacles, and future horizons

Abstract Background : Sesamum indicum is an ancient oilseed crop that remains relatively underutilized in research, development, and commercialization, despite its wide agronomic adaptability, high nutritional value, and increasing global demand. In Africa, sesame has become a strategic cash crop, contributing more than half of global production; however, productivity remains low due to persistent constraints that reduce yield stability and limit the sector’s full economic potential. Methods : This review synthesizes evidence on the African sesame sector by integrating a systematized narrative review with a descriptive analysis of production trends derived from FAOSTAT and Statista datasets. Following a PRISMA-inspired mixed-methods approach, literature published between 2000 and 2025 was assessed to examine long-term trends in production, harvested area, and yield, alongside advances in agronomy, breeding and genetic improvement, shattering resistance, post-harvest management, market organization, and policy environments. Results : Results indicate that recent growth in African sesame production has been driven primarily by area expansion rather than yield improvement, underscoring persistent productivity gaps. Advances in conventional and genomics-assisted breeding, climate-smart agronomy, and participatory approaches show strong potential to enhance yields and resilience, but adoption remains limited. Structural constraints across seed systems, post-harvest handling, processing, and market governance continue to restrict value addition and farmer incomes. By integrating these dimensions within a systems-level analytical framework, this review goes beyond existing fragmented studies and proposes an integrated pathway for sustainable sesame industry development in Africa. Conclusions : The findings provide actionable insights for researchers, policy makers, and development practitioners seeking to unlock the full potential of the African sesame sector under increasing climate and market uncertainties.