Nilphamari sees jump in sunflower cultivation

Driven by higher profits, cultivation of sunflower, a relatively healthier choice of edible oil, is on the rise in Nilphamari.

Sunflower oil contains vitamin E that protects cells from age-related damage. When used in low-heat cooking, sunflower oil containing high oleic acid, a form of unsaturated fat, is thought to provide some benefits for heart health.

According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Nilphamari, 530 tonnes of sunflower is targeted to be produced on 655 acres of land in all six upazilas of the district this year, as opposed to cultivation of the same on 30 acres of land last year.

Sanarul Islam, sub-assistant agriculture officer of DAE in Nilphamari, said they have been providing free hi-breed sunflower seeds, fertiliser and necessary advice to encourage farmers in the cultivation of sunflower.

The government spends a large sum of money on import of edible oil and hence, "we encourage farmers in cultivation of sunflower as it not only ensures higher profit, but also helps attain self-sufficiency in production of edible oil," said Obaidur Rahman Mondol, deputy director of DAE in Nilphamari.

While visiting sunflower fields in Purba Gurguri Sheikhpara village of Sadar upazila, farmer Sheikh Md Golam Rabbani said he cultivated the crop on 17 bighas of land in early December.

About 750 to 800 grams of seed in needed for each bigha of land and he received RDS-275 variety of hi-breed sunflower seeds from the DAE free of cost. "I found interest in its cultivation as it needs less irrigation and labour, but its production cost is low and profit is high," the farmer also said.

Sayed Alam Ali, another sunflower grower from the same village, said cultivation of sunflower is more profitable than other traditional crops such as Boro rice, maize or wheat.

Each maund (1 maund=37.3242 kilograms) of sunflower seed sells for around Tk 2,700 and with a production cost of only Tk 7 thousand per bigha, about Tk 12 thousand profit can be made from a harvest of nearly six to seven maunds of sunflower seed from one bigha of land.

About Tk 8 to 9 thousand profit can be made from production of Boro on the same amount of land, Tk 8 thousand from maize and Tk 5 thousand from wheat, he added.

Many other farmers in the area said they were convinced by the profits earned by local sunflower growers and they would also consider cultivating sunflower next year. 

Dr Abdul Mazid, who retired from the Directorate General of Health Services as a deputy director, said consumption of sunflower oil has health benefits as its unsaturated fat and vitamin E reduces the risk of cardiac arrest.