Sesame production urgently needs variety cultivation and mechanization breakthrough

Researcher Wei Shuangling, director of the Cultivation Research Office of the Sesame Center of Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that this is a new type of machinery jointly developed by the Near Academy of Agricultural Sciences and universities. Once it is put into use on a large scale, it will effectively promote the development of sesame production in our province. She said that at present, the province's crops such as wheat, corn, soybeans and peanuts have basically achieved mechanization in the whole process, while the mechanization of sesame production is low, which restricts the area of ​​sesame cultivation and the increase in income and efficiency of farmers.

Low degree of mechanization

Chen Xiaoli is a native of Chenji Village, Guolou Town, Pingyi County. He planted 1200 mu of sesame this year. Speaking of income, he said excitedly: "The yield of sesame seeds is better than that of corn and soybeans. Although sesame seeds only produce about 100 kilograms per mu, the cost is low and the price is high. Last year, one kilogram sold about 16 yuan. It can also be sold. Sesame leaves have a good income.” But when it comes to the mechanization of sesame production, he sighs again and again: “The degree of mechanization is too low, and the labor intensity of sesame production is too great. From seeding to cutting and harvesting, a large amount of labor is needed.” Last year local government subsidies 80 %, Chen Xiaoli purchased 3 sesame seeders. He said: "After changing to machine seeding, there is no need to pick up the seedlings, and the cost per mu is reduced by 80 yuan." Chen Xiaoli sesame seeds have achieved mechanized sowing, but the weeding, fight drugs, harvesting and other aspects still rely entirely on labor.

Constraint intensification

At present, the area of ​​sesame cultivation in our province is about 2.8 million mu, accounting for nearly one-third of the country's planted area. Wei Shuangling said: "Although the planting area is large, there are many small households, and there are not many large households." She analyzed that the reason for this pattern is that the degree of mechanization is low. Chen Xiaoli said: "I have so many sesame seeds. When I cut, I have to hire more than 300 people and cut them for many days. The labor cost is too high." He is worried that there will be no labor in the countryside. In this regard, Guozi of Zhenping County has deep feelings. After he retired in 2005, he has been helping farmers develop agriculture in the countryside. He said: "Because it is not easy to hire labor, the big households are not willing to plant sesame. The small households do not count labor and land prices, and feel that the income of sesame seeds is relatively high." He analyzed that the rural labor force will become more and more scared in the future. Without mechanization, the planting area in the province will become smaller and smaller in the future.

Calling for mechanization

In the United States, sesame production is mechanized from planting to harvesting. Why can't China do this? Wei Shuangling said: "There are two main reasons. First, the sesame varieties are not good. Second, the cycle of agricultural production is different. The United States only grows one year in a year. The sesame has been harvested with long stalks." Compared with sesame, it is very special. It is high in sesame flowering. It is different from the bottom to the maturity. The following is ripe, and the above flowering. How to cultivate a sesame variety that does not split below and grows to a certain height and no longer blooms, which is a prerequisite for mechanization of harvesting. Wei Shuangling said: "At present, the province has cultivated such a variety and is testing and planting in Shangshui County. Once the test is successful, it will be widely promoted." Now, the province is gradually promoting the sesame sowing and mechanization of medicinal herbs. The cultivation has been broken, and the entire mechanization of sesame production will also break through the bottleneck. Wei Shuangling said: "At present, the national sesame production is about 600,000 tons, while the import volume is 800,000 tons. The domestic production is far from meeting the consumption demand. This requires us to make breakthroughs in the cultivation of varieties, on the mechanization of sesame production. Make a breakthrough."

(Original title: Looking forward to mechanized sesame "high section")