In Nigeria, sesame is one of the country’s main export crops, primarily grown by smallholders and harvested manually. This results in a high level of impurities and inconsistent quality after harvest. Using air screen cleaners for mechanized cleaning of sesame seeds has significant practical and crucial implications:
1. Significantly Improves Export Quality, Meeting International Procurement Standards
Nigeria’s sesame seeds are mainly exported to markets such as China, Turkey, Europe, and the Middle East. These markets have extremely strict requirements regarding impurities:
Air screen cleaners effectively remove leaves, stems, dust, shriveled seeds, broken seeds, mud clumps, and insect-damaged seeds, resulting in high purity, uniform particle size, and consistent color.
This meets the stringent requirements of international buyers for impurities of ≤1%–2%, directly improving grade, price, and competitiveness.
2. Reduces Manual Sorting Costs and Increases Efficiency
Sesame-producing areas in Nigeria generally rely on manual sorting:
Manual sorting is slow, labor-intensive, and costly.
Air screen cleaners have a large processing capacity and can operate continuously; one machine can replace dozens of people.
For exporters, cooperatives, and buyers, increased efficiency translates to increased profits.
3. Reduce the risk of mold and pests, and improve storage safety. Sesame seeds mixed with broken leaves, soil, and damp impurities are prone to absorbing moisture, generating heat, mold, and attracting insects.
After air sieving:
Impurities are removed, making the sesame seeds drier and more breathable.
Storage losses are significantly reduced.
Suitable for long-distance sea freight export, less prone to spoilage.
4. Increase oil yield and processing value.
For oil pressing enterprises or deep processing stages:
Clean sesame seeds result in higher oil yield, clearer oil, and no earthy taste.
Easy equipment wear and tear, extending the life of oil presses. Air sieving is an essential pre-treatment step before oil pressing.
5. Enhance the reputation of Nigerian sesame in the international market. Major sesame exporting countries in East Africa, such as Sudan and Tanzania, have already widely adopted mechanized cleaning.
By standardizing cleaning, Nigeria can:
Eliminate the impression of “high impurities and unstable quality.”
Establish a stable and reliable export image.
Facilitate long-term market share in the international market. 6. Help small farmers increase their income and enhance the value of the industrial chain.
Cleaned sesame seeds fetch higher prices.
Buyers are more willing to purchase and offer more stable prices.
Promote the upgrade from “raw seed export” to “clean commercial seed export”.
Ensure that more profits in the industrial chain remain domestically.
Post time: Mar-10-2026
