Sunflower – an emerging oilseed crop for the coastal zone

Background Bangladesh imports edible oil (at least 2/3 rd of the requirement). Coastal zone has potential to produce an oilseed crop, as most lands remain fallow after wet season rice. BRAC, the largest NGO in the world has taken initiative to upscale sunflower cultivation. – Provided training and 30% financial support to 21,000 small farmers (male and female) to cultivate sunflowers during dry season

Why BRAC is up scaling? BRAC had experience on sunflower cultivation in the coastal zone for two seasons prior to joining CPWF and gained confidence working with G2. BRAC was inspired to upscale sunflower cultivation experiencing yield potential of sunflower with minimum irrigation. BRAC wants to help the poor coastal farmers to produce their own edible oil from their land that usually remains fallow in the dry season. BRAC also has a commercial view in mind and plans to buy the harvest and market sunflower oil after processing.

Farmers’ view on sunflower The sunflower market is growing in the coastal zone due to BRAC’s previous effort and the on-farm demonstration research of G2. Many farmers and extension agents witnessed the performance of sunflower on the G2 research field. According to the G2 farmer of polder 43/2F (Altaf Boyati), “marketing of sunflower is not a problem these days; many buyers are there in the local market; many farmers who cultivated sunflower in were able to sell sunflower seed (local market at Amtali upazila) with an average price of BDT 35/kg seed – quite profitable”.

Why did up scaling happen during the project period? The keys to success in up scaling were the engagement of a partner (BRAC) with a strong base in the coastal zone, entrepreneur skills, financial resources and a mission of improving food security and livelihoods of the poor. The most challenging aspect of sunflower cultivation is the cost of the seed and fertilizer, which are barriers to many poor farmers. BRAC has the ability and mission to help the poor and has provided partial financial grants to buy seed and fertilizer for the first year only.

Yield of sunflower in some coastal districts of Bangladesh

Profitability of sunflower cultivation in coastal zone of Bangladesh

Sunflower cultivation in coastal zone of Bangladesh Dumuria upazila Khulna district Sharankhola upazila Bagerhat district