Online Desk: Farmers in three upazilas of the district are cultivating sunflower in a wider range of area this season as they made substantial profit from the oil seed crop last year.

Finding it to be a highly profitable venture, they are now opting for farming of the cash crop.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Gopalganj office, at least 600 farmers in three upazilas of the district, including Gopalganj Sadar, Kasiani and Tungipara, are now engaged in the cultivation of sunflower.

A total of 51 hectares of land have been brought under sunflower cultivation in the three upazilas in the current season, official sources said, adding the production target was set at 116 tonnes.

Fakir Mohammad Palash, 38, a farmer of Char Manikdha village under Sadar upazila, said he cultivated sunflower on 50 decimals of land this year spending Tk 16,000.

Palash expressed the hope that he would get a profit of Tk30,000 from the produce if the weather condition remains favourable.

Nazma Haque, sub-assistant agriculture officer (SAAO) of Laifpur union under Sadar Upazila, told the FE that sunflower was a farmer-friendly crop because its oil is better and of higher quality. The oil produced from sunflower is not only highly beneficial for health but also has a good commercial value. It takes approximately 120 days for growers to harvest the crop and eight to nine maunds of sunflower can be produced from one bigha (52 decimals) of land. The present market price of sunflower ranges from Tk4,000 to Tk4,500 per maund, Nazma Haque said.

Lima Begum (35), a female farmer of Puraton Manikdha village under Sadar Upazila, said she cultivated sunflower on 33 decimals of land this year and the condition of the field is satisfactory.

If the climatic condition remains good, she would get about six maunds of sunflower (oil seed), whose market price would be around Tk25,000.

Lima told this correspondent that sunflower farming was gaining popularity among the farmers in the region day by day, due to its cost-effectiveness.

Ratan Bain, 45, a farmer of Ramchandanpur village under Tungipara upazila, said, “I have cultivated the oil seed crop on 65 decimals of land (local 11/4 bighas), in the current season.

Growth of the plats is satisfactory and I think I will get 10 maunds of sunflower seed from my fields if the weather condition continues to remain favourable.”

Ratan also said the local agriculture office always provides necessary help for farming of sunflower.

Sanjoy Kundu, additional deputy director (crops), Khamarbari, Gopalganj, told the FE, since sunflower oil is cholesterol-free and prevents diseases like tuberculosis, its farming is gaining momentum day by day everywhere in the country.

Besides, its oil is good for heart health; but soil and weather of the region is favourable for cultivation of the crop, he said.

Md Murad Kazi, 30, a farmer of Janashur village under Mahespur union of Kasiani upazila, said he cultivated sunflower on 50 decimals of land this year and has been involved in its farming for the last two years.