Sunflower cultivation shows success in Dacop

KHULNA, Apr 23: The farmers of Aila affected area of Dacop upazila have successfully cultivated sunflower and maize in their saline land. About 380 farmers now expect a bumper production this season. A total of 275 hectares of land have been brought under sunflower and maize cultivation in Pankhali, Kamarkhola and Tildanga union of Dacop Upazila to meet the demand for edible oil.  

The harvesting of sunflower is about start within 1-2 weeks. Besides, over 1000 hectares of land have been brought under sunflower cultivation in 24 upazilas of the coast districts and over 2500 tonnes oil would be produced from these, BRAC, a non-government organisation source said.

BRAC started the cultivation of this crop initially since 1998 and was closed due to failing to ensure the fair price. But BRAC has taken initiative again to expand the cultivation of sunflower in this area.

Shudhir Chandra Nath, head of the Agriculture and Food Security Programme said that the farmers were deprived of fair price last year due to absence of oil processing machine. But oil processing units of modern technology have been set up last year and it is expected that the produced oil would be marketed at a reasonably cheap rate.   

Agriculture officer of Dacop Uapzila said that the soil of Dacop Upazila is favourable for sunflower cultivation. Tk. 8-9 thousand is expended per bigha to cultivate sunflower from seedbed to labour payment. The crop is harvested within 120-130 days.

The Manager of Agriculture and Food Security Programme of Farid Ahmed said that 380 farmers have been brought under this programme from three unions of the upazila this year and that technical support have been provided to them.