Noor Ullah Arif, Char Fassion (Bhola)

 
There is no alternative to using edible oil to make food delicious. Since most edible oils contain various health risks including harmful cholesterol, farmers have turned to sunflower cultivation as an alternative to meet consumer demand.

 This has increased the cultivation of sunflowers in the agriculture-based upazila Char Fashion. This year, sunflowers were cultivated on 370 hectares of land in Char Fashion Upazila. Which is 20 hectares more than last year. As the yield is also good, farmers are now smiling with yellow sunflowers. The maximum sunflower cultivation in the upazila is in Mujibnagar Union, a char area surrounded by the Tetulia River. In addition, sunflower cultivation has increased in Char Madraz, Aslampur Hazariganj, Aminabad, Abubakarpur, Omarpur and Osmanganj Unions.

Although sunflower edible oil is dependent on imports from outside the world, the crop has been widely cultivated in Bangladesh, especially in the southern region, for several years. As a result, the dependence on imports has decreased due to good production, and farmers are also benefiting financially. Since the sunflower crop is tolerant to light to medium salinity and drought, sunflower cultivation in Char Fashion Upazila and the southern region has opened up new possibilities for farmers.

This oil is very beneficial for health. It contains vitamin-E antioxidants. It also contains omega-6 fatty acids that help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and keep the heart healthy. Also, regular consumption of sunflower oil increases immunity. The cultivated sunflowers include Haisan 33, Haisan 36 Champ, and Bari sunflower 3 varieties. There is a target of producing 2-2.5 million tons of crop per hectare of cultivated land. Farmers are hopeful of making a profit as the market price is good.

 
According to the Agriculture Department, under the Modern Agricultural Technology Extension Project in the country's Char areas, a total of 30 exhibitions of 33 percent each of the Haisan 33 variety of sunflower have been cultivated. In addition, 15 exhibitions (50 percent) of Haisan 36 variety have been implemented under the Oil Crop Production Increase Project. Under the Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project (SACP) project, Haisan 33 variety of sunflower has been cultivated in 13 exhibitions of 50 percent.

Mostafizur Rahman, a sunflower farmer from Char Madraz Union, said, consuming sunflower oil improves the heart and reduces the body's resistance to diseases. So I cultivated sunflower on one hectare of land myself. The yield has been good. I will not sell the produced yield but keep it for annual household edible oil. Babul Mia, a farmer from Mujibnagar area, said, "On the advice of the Upazila Agriculture Office, I have cultivated sunflower for the first time in an improved method. The yield has also been quite good. There is a demand for sunflower oil in the market.  Apart from oil, the seeds can be used as animal feed to make kheil.’

Aslampur farmer Rabi Ullah said, ‘Sunflower yields are better than many other crops. This crop requires comparatively less irrigation and maintenance. If the weather is favorable, I am hoping to produce a good amount of oil from sunflower.’ Not only will people be able to use healthy oil, but farmers’ income will also increase.’

Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Nazmul Huda said, the Agriculture Department is working to increase sunflower cultivation to reduce dependence on imported edible oil. This year, 1 kg of hybrid sunflower seeds and 20 kg of chemical fertilizers have been distributed free of cost to 2000 farmers in Char Fashion Upazila under the incentive program to increase sunflower cultivation.

Besides, under the Partner Project to expand improved varieties of sunflower, a total of 4 exhibitions of 2 acres each have been set up on 8 acres of land through Bari Suryumukhi 3.  He also said that this year, due to favorable weather conditions and less disease, the sunflower crop has been very good and farmers are expected to get good yields. 

Char Fashion Upazila Agriculture Officer's office and the field level Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officers are providing necessary advice and technical assistance to sunflower farmers.