Sunflower farming brings hope to Sylhet’s haors
Sunflowers were cultivated on just 56 hectares of land last year, which increased to 565 hectares this year, said an agriculture official in Moulvibazar. PHOTO: STAR
Sunflower cultivation in Sylhet s haor areas has helped thousands of farmers secure financial solvency as they successfully made good use of the abandoned lands.
Besides, about 90 per cent of Bangladesh s demand for edible oil is met through imports as locally produced varieties are not up to the mark, according to various sunflower farmers. As sunflower oil has health benefits, we can sell the extra seeds for processing after keeping what we need, said Syed Humaid Ali Shahin, a sunflower farmer based in Moulvibazar Sadar upazila.