Call to Transform Crop Markets into Commodity Exchanges
Businessman Wajdi Mirghani has called for the transformation of traditional crop markets into formal commodity exchanges to protect small-scale producers and enable them to market their products at fair prices, away from having to sell at the lowest possible rates.
Meanwhile, the Gedaref State Crop Markets have received 52,585 sacks of sesame for the 2025–2026 agricultural season during the current month, marking the start of the sesame harvest season amid strong optimism among farmers for higher yields this year compared to 54,189 sacks recorded during the same period last year.
According to Mustafa Ahmed Al-Hussein, Director General of Gedaref Crop Markets, as reported by the Sudan News Agency (SUNA), the initial inflow of sesame to the markets signals preparations for the launch of the new marketing season and the opening of auctions in the coming period.
He confirmed that all administrative and technical arrangements have been completed for the inauguration of the new marketing season later in November, noting that all digital weighing scales have been recalibrated, and that the “Tarnata” weighing system will be introduced for the first time this year to facilitate weighing operations for all crops as part of preparations for this major economic event.
He added that several companies have already applied to participate in this year’s auction after meeting the required conditions, emphasizing that applications remain open for interested companies and trading houses.
Trading in sesame outside the auction is still ongoing, he said, with prices currently ranging between 140,000 and 150,000 Sudanese pounds per quintal (45 kg), compared to 148,000–152,000 pounds during the same period last year.
