Photo: BSS

KHULNA, April 23, 2026 (BSS) - Sunflower harvesting is progressing in full swing across the Khulna region, with 64 percent of the crop already harvested as of Tuesday in the current rabi season (2025-26).

Fields across the region have turned bright yellow with blooming sunflowers, raising hopes among farmers for better utilisation of saline fallow land and new income opportunities.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), sunflower cultivation has expanded to 1,608 hectares this season in the Khulna region, which includes Khulna, Bagerhat, Narail and Satkhira districts. The figure marks a significant rise from last year's 1,219 hectares.

Initially, the DAE had set a production target of 2,945 metric tonnes from 1,319 hectares. However, officials are now expecting production to reach around 3,214 metric tonnes from the expanded cultivation area.

DAE data shows that harvesting progress varies across districts, with 61 percent completed in Khulna (356 hectares), 50 percent in Bagerhat (306 hectares), 86 percent in Satkhira (195 hectares), and 88 percent in Narail (168 hectares).

Cultivation has also exceeded targets in all four districts. In Khulna, 581 hectares were brought under cultivation against a target of 550 hectares, while Bagerhat recorded 608 hectares against 538 hectares. In Satkhira, 228 hectares were cultivated against a target of 114 hectares, and in Narail, 271 hectares against 117 hectares.

Officials estimate that the harvest could yield around 12 lakh litres of edible oil in the region, helping meet demand for nearly 3.10 crore people while reducing reliance on imports and saving foreign currency.

Field visits to villages like Magurghona and Tipna in Dumuria upazila show vast stretches of sunflower fields resembling yellow carpets.

Farmer Shaheen Molla of Magurghona village said sunflower cultivation is primarily aimed at oil production.

"We get seven to eight maunds of seeds per bigha. From each kilogram of seeds, about half a litre of oil can be extracted, producing roughly 150 to 180 litres per bigha," he said.

He added that sunflower oil is currently selling at around Tk 270 per litre, while cultivation costs remain below Tk 3,500 per bigha. The leftover seed cake is also used as cattle feed.

Another farmer, Mahtab Hossain of Tipna village, said sunflower performs well even on saline land where many other crops fail.

"It requires less irrigation and minimal care, making it increasingly attractive to farmers," he said.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Nazmul Huda described sunflower as a promising oilseed crop, noting that farmers have been supported with training, quality seeds and fertilisers to boost production.

However, farmers in Dumuria stressed the need for government procurement and stronger market linkages to sustain and expand cultivation.

Additional Director of DAE in Khulna region Md Rafiqul Islam said a total of 10,650 farmers received incentives this season, including 2.15 lakh kilograms of fertilisers and 10,650 kilograms of seeds.

Each farmer was provided with 10 kg of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), 10 kg of Muriate of Potash (MOP) and 1 kg of seeds for cultivating two bighas of land.

He added that 240 farmers are currently demonstrating sunflower cultivation on 80 acres under the PATNER project across four districts, with each farmer managing two acres. They have also received BARI-3 sunflower seeds along with fertilisers and pesticides.

"Sunflower is no longer just a flower; it is emerging as a symbol of economic potential in the region," he said.