Sunflower has been grown on more land than targeted in Dinajpur. Farmers and the agriculture department expect a bumper yield if the weather stays favourable. The crop covers 1 hectare more than the target this year, and the report puts production at 6 tonnes.

Sohraf Ali of Bidyashwari village, Khamar Kantabari, Sadar upazila, has grown sunflower on 1 acre. He said: "I have been growing sunflower for 7 years. This time I planned it properly. The flowers have come, so visitors can enter the garden with a Tk 50 ticket, walk around and take as many photos as they like."

The fields of Garul village in Mangalpur union, Biral upazila, look like a sea of gold, with golden flowers swaying in the breeze and turning towards the sun. The prospect of good profit at low cost and the beautiful sight have brought smiles to the upazila's farmers, and villagers and visitors from far away are crowding in to see the fields.

Farmer Rabiul Islam of Garul village has grown sunflower on 48 decimals of land, and other farmers inspired by him are turning to the crop this year. Sunflowers are blooming on 4 hectares across the upazila's 12 unions. The sight is attracting visitors as well as pleasing farmers; people come every day for photos and selfies, and the golden fields have become a tourist spot.

Aktara Khatun said: "I was passing along this road when I suddenly saw the sunflower garden and stopped at once. It was as if a sea of golden sunflowers had opened up in front of me. Every corner is special for taking photos. It is truly an amazing experience!"

Farmer Rabiul Islam said: "I first grew it on a trial basis last year. This time I planted a little more land. If the weather stays favourable I will make a good profit. All kinds of support and regular advice from the upazila agriculture office are helping us a lot."

Md Anisuzzaman, additional deputy director (crops) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Dinajpur, said: "This year 54 hectares were set for sunflower cultivation in Dinajpur, but 55 hectares were achieved. Each hectare will produce 1.25 tonnes of seed. On that basis the district will produce 69 tonnes of sunflower seed this year."

Biral Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Rumman Akter said: "If grown with modern methods, sunflower could become a promising cash crop for the district. The government is giving farmers incentives to reduce dependence on imported edible oil. If the weather stays favourable, farmers will get good prices this season. In Biral upazila sunflower has been grown on a total of 4 hectares this season."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.