The Sesame Effect details the wide-ranging work of Sesame Workshop and its productions across the world. With an emphasis on impact and evidence from research on projects in low- and middle-income countries, the book tells the stories behind the development of an international family of Muppet characters created for the locally produced adaptations of Sesame Street. Each chapter highlights the educational message of international co-productions and presents the cultural context of each project. Readers will understand the specific needs of children living in a given locale, as well as gain insight into the educational drivers of each project. These projects often deal with difficult issues, from race relations in the United States, to HIV/AIDS education in South Africa, to building respect across cultural divides in the Middle East. Readers will see how local productions have helped build a new mindset that values the importance of early childhood education, and how Sesame Street promotes a brighter future by building children’s academic skills, encouraging healthy habits, and by fostering attitudes that counter negative stereotypes and create appreciation of and respect for others. The Sesame Effect shows how, when magnified across the millions of children touched by the various international programs, Sesame Workshop and its projects are making a difference around the world.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is recognized as one of the most ancient oils. Its cultivation goes back to 2130 BC. It is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and southern temperate regions of the world for its seeds which are a rich source of edible oil. Recent studies have shown that the oil lowers cholesterol levels and hypertension in humans and reduces the incidence of certain cancers. India ranks high in the area and production of sesame in the world with an annual area of 2.07 million hectares and total production of 0.76 million tons. Even though sesame is the predominant oil seed crop of India, the per hectare productivity and the economic returns given by it are very low. The crop is very sensitive to biotic and abiotic stresses and it grows in marginal light-textured inceptisols having poor soil fertility associated with imbalance and without fertilizer application. The application of both organic and inorganic fertilizers could help bringing in profitable returns. However, due to escalating costs of production of chemical fertilizers and low subsidies for farmers, the agricultural planners are compelled to re-orient their thinking towards cost effective and cheap renewable resources.

Includes a chapter on oilseed processing.