Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) has advised farmers to immediately sell black sesame on harvest as the prices of the crop are expected to remain around Rs 85 per kg during May-June.
The suggestion was put forth by the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies in TNAU, which analysed sesame prices in Sivagiri for the last 15 years.
The econometric analysis and market survey by the centre revealed that farmers could get a price of Rs 81-85 per kg for black sesame during May-June 2016.
Of the total sesame production of 7.25 lakh tonnes in India, 0.15 lakh tonne is used as seed for sowing, 3 lakh tonne for exports and the remaining is for domestic consumption.
Red and black sesame varieties are used for oil consumption and white sesame varieties for confectionery.
Country's sesame exports significantly declined 34 per cent over last year mainly due to increased production, combined with a reduction in demand with higher stock position in the domestic market, it said adding that increased acreage and favourable weather conditions helped.
Moreover, good production numbers in China and South America reduced demand from Central America, which has also affected India's sesame exports, it said.
