Sesame
Sesame (‘Rasi’ in Odia) is the oldest indigenous oilseed crop containing 50% oil, 25% protein and 15% carbohydrate. Sesame oil and foods fried in sesame oil have a longer shelf life it contains an antioxidant called Sesamol. Sesame meal is an excellent high-quality protein (40%)feed for poultry and livestock. Odisha's production accounts for 15.74 % of total national oilseed production and ranks second in the country. In general, sesame productivity has remained lower than expected, owing primarily to its cultivation on marginal lands, with poor management, and without inputs other than seed. As a result, environmentally and economically sustainable practises are used instead of chemical fertilizers. On the basis of application of bio-fertilizers it can be categorized into three types:
- Nitrogenous (N) bio-fertilizer
- Phosphatic (P) bio-fertilizer
- Potash (K) bio-fertilizer