Photo: BSS

By SM Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, May 30, 2025 (BSS) - Sunflower farming is gaining popularity in Rupsha upazila of the district as many farmers are cultivating the oilseed not only to meet their need for edible oil but also to earn extra income by selling the surplus.
 
With low production costs and promising returns, sunflower farming has experienced significant expansion, attracting more farmers to this profitable venture.

This year, sunflowers have been cultivated on nearly 70 hectares of land across the upazila, including 13 hectares in Tilok village.

Farmers in Rupsa upazila are working collectively throughout the entire process, from sowing and caring for the crops to harvesting, oil extraction, storage, and marketing of both oil and sunflower cake. This organised approach has increased the oilseed's production and substantially improved farmers' incomes.
 
In response, the local farmers have formed a committee called the "Tilok Sunflower Village" to further support and develop this promising venture.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) of Khulna has been actively supporting the initiative by organising farmers and providing training on best practices. High-quality seeds and organic fertilizers, particularly vermicompost, have been supplied, while the use of chemical fertilizers has been minimized. 

Farmers have also been encouraged to use organic pesticides to control insect pests in the crops. This year, the production of sunflowers is better than last year due to favourable weather conditions.

Additionally, the installation of modern oil extraction machines through the project has brought much satisfaction among farmers, allowing them to process sunflower seeds efficiently and extract oil on-site.

Talking to BSS, Daud Ali, a farmer from Tilok village, said sunflower cultivation in this area offers several advantages including salinity tolerance, fast growth, and a reliable income source.
     
"The risks involved in sunflower farming are much lower. It is especially beneficial as the crop is tolerant to saline soil and heat, enabling cultivation in previously barren lands. Currently, sunflower oil sells at Taka 300 per litre. We consume sunflower oil ourselves and sell it as well, without any health issues," he added.

Zahid Kazi, a buyer from the same area said, "I have been using this oil regularly.Previously, I suffered from acidity and various ailments due to consuming soybean oil. Watching the oil being freshly produced here and using pure," adulteration-free oil has greatly improved my health."

Mohammad Jahangir Hossain, a local farmer and the president of the "Tilak Sunflower Village" committee said that there is no problem growing other vegetables alongside sunflower crops. 

"If any disease or pest issues arise, we quickly consult experts and take necessary actions. Integrated farming creates a strong synergy," he said.

"With support from the agriculture department, we have received machines that allow us to extract oil directly from the seeds. From 33 decimals of land, about 300 kilograms of seeds can be harvested, which yields approximately 80 kilograms of oil and 300 kilograms of sunflower cake. Due to the increased profit, more farmers are increasingly adopting sunflower cultivation," he added.

Abu Musa, general secretary of the committee, described the earlier challenges faced by farmers here.
 
"Previously, even though sunflowers were cultivated, there were many difficulties in oil extraction and marketing," he said.

"To solve this, modern oil extraction machines were installed by the project so that farmers can process sunflower seeds and sell oil locally whenever they want. This has allowed us to produce and sell oil ourselves instead of selling raw seeds. The cost to cultivate one bigha of land is around Tk 10 to 12 thousand, while sales bring in Tk 30 to 35 thousand. Besides oil, the leftover sunflower cake is also sold as cattle feed," he remarked.

Agriculture Officer of Rupsa upazila Tarun Kumar Bala said farmers previously faced numerous problems in extracting and marketing sunflower oil.

"The modern oil extraction machines installed through the project have enabled farmers to produce and sell oil directly, boosting the popularity of sunflower cultivation in the area due to its profitability," he added.

Talking to BSS, Md Rafiqul Islam, additional director of the DAE in Khulna Region said sunflower cultivation is becoming popular in Khulna's saline lands, offering a viable alternative for farmers, especially in coastal areas.

"Commercially sunflower farming is now profitable as its oil is hygienic and good for human health. Sunflower cake is also a good feed for cattle," he added.