From a distance it looks as if a huge yellow carpet has been spread out; up close, thousands of sunflowers can be seen swaying in the breeze.

This year farmers in Patuakhali have grown sunflowers on wide tracts of land under an integrated plan. From cultivation, care, harvest and storage to oil production and marketing of the oil and oilcake, the farmers are working as a group, with a local NGO, Palli Pragati Samiti, giving them full support. They are seeing much more profit than in previous years.

In Shiali village of Badarpur union in Patuakhali Sadar upazila, 34 farmers have grown sunflowers together on 120 bighas. They were organised and trained, and given quality seed and organic fertiliser (vermicompost). Thanks to good weather and proper care, yields are better than in past years.

According to agriculture experts, sunflower farming carries relatively little risk for farmers, and because the crop tolerates salinity and heat it can now be grown on much fallow land. Sunflower oil currently sells at Tk 330 a litre, and sunflower seed at Tk 90 to 100 a kg depending on quality.

Photos: Abdus Salam Arif / Jagonews24.

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