Under a joint plan, sunflower has been grown on a wide stretch of land in Patuakhali this year. From sowing to care, harvesting, storage, oil production and the marketing of oil and oil cake, farmers are working as a group, and they are seeing much bigger profits than in previous years. A local NGO in Patuakhali, Palli Pragati Samiti, is giving the farmers all-round support.

In Shiyali village of Badarpur union in Patuakhali Sadar upazila, 34 farmers have together grown sunflower on 120 bighas this year. They were organised and trained, and given quality seed and organic fertiliser (vermicompost). Chemical fertiliser use was cut and organic pesticides were used against insect attacks. Thanks to good weather and proper care, yields are better than in previous years, and the farmers are smiling.

Agriculture experts say sunflower carries relatively little risk for farmers. Because it tolerates salinity and heat, it can now be grown on much uncultivated land. Sunflower oil currently sells at Tk 330 a litre, and sunflower seed at Tk 90 to Tk 100 a kg depending on quality.

Local farmer Md Samchhu Gazi said: "Because all the neighbouring plots grow the same crop, we can tackle problems together. If there is disease or any other trouble, we consult and act quickly. When everyone farms differently, we are often cheated with fake seed, pesticide and other inputs, and on price as well. Farming together gives us extra strength. We are also all guarding the sunflower fields, so this year nobody has damaged the flowers or seed."

Asia Begum said: "Before, even when we grew sunflower, we had all kinds of problems pressing the oil and selling it. So that farmers can press sunflower seed whenever they need and sell the oil at the local market, the project has installed a modern oil-pressing machine. Now, instead of selling the sunflower directly, we produce and sell the oil ourselves. The oil cake left after pressing can also be fed to cattle."

Agriculturist Asaduzzaman, value chain facilitator at Patuakhali Palli Pragati Samiti, said: "We are working with farmers to protect them from various crises, including climate change, and to bring socio-economic change. We have also supplied seed for various vegetables so they can grow them as companion crops alongside sunflower. As a result, besides the positive change in their socio-economic condition, the farmers will become interested in spreading new technologies."

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