Sesame (Til) Cultivation in Dholpur: Ancient Oilseed Heritage

Sesame (Sesamum indicum, known as til) is one of the oldest cultivated oilseeds in India, and Dholpur district's light sandy soils are well-suited to its growth. Farmers sow sesame in June-July after pre-monsoon rains, using thin rows to allow drainage. The crop matures in 90 days and is harvested by cutting and bundling before full maturity to prevent seed shattering. Sesame oil (til ka tel) is used for cooking, lamp fuel, and skin massage, particularly for newborns. Laddoos made from sesame seeds and jaggery are consumed at Makar Sankranti as a winter nutritional supplement. Sesame residue (khali) after oil extraction is a high-protein livestock feed. Dholpur's sesame is traded to oil mills in Agra and Jaipur. The crop requires almost no irrigation, making it a climate-resilient option for dryland farmers facing increasing monsoon uncertainty.