Sunflower Cultivation Sees a Surge in India's West Bengal as Spring Season Arrives

With the arrival of the spring season, the cultivation of sunflowers has increased across the country. As the end of March approaches, farmers are seen shifting to the oilseed crop in the fields of the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Majorly grown in temperate countries, sunflower is a prime oilseed crop and is one of the most significant sources of vegetable oil in the world. 

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India’s economy is agriculture-based, so it hardly comes as a surprise that the government has prioritized the elevation of vegetable oil production in the country. Because of the favourable climatic conditions, the sunflower crop has gained popularity among domestic farmers.

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Due to the number of health benefits, it offers, sunflower oil is preferred by consumers in India and all across the globe. In India, it is also the largest-selling edible oil in the branded oil segment. This is why sunflower oil is considered premium in comparison with other vegetable oils.

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The cultivation of sunflowers is relatively easier as compared to other vegetable oil crops. Sunflower is a photo-insensitive crop and thus can be grown successfully across the country in any season, namely rabi, kharif, and spring seasons. With the exception of freezing temperatures, the crops can be grown in any month of the year. In the spring season, it usually takes around 90 to 110 days to be cultivated.

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Sunflower is grown in rotation with other crops because of their adaptable nature. Some of the important crops with which it is rotated are paddy, potato, maize, arhar/tur (pigeon pea), and others. However, sunflower is a complete crop, and so it acknowledges well to the application of manures and fertilizers, especially in drylands and in regions where the soil is not too fertile.

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According to the scientists from Nimpeeth Agricultural Science Center, farmers in West Bengal can be benefitted from adding water-soluble fertilizers and putting the nutrients directly into the roots of the sunflower crop. In this way, the cost of fertilizers gets significantly reduced, besides a spur in the quality and yield of the crop.

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Furthermore, scientists have deduced that the cultivation of selected breeds of the sunflower crop, such as Jwalamukhi, KBSH-1, and MSFH-4, can result in supplementary yields from the fields of South 24 Parganas district, particularly in places like Sunderbans.