Sunflower cultivation gaining popularity in Manikganj

Sunflower cultivation has been gaining popularity among the farmers of Manikganj district, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said.

According to DAE sources, the farmers are showing keen interest in cultivating sunflowers in their fallow lands, especially in the char areas of the Padma and the Jamuna as they can earn more profits from it.

A total of 23 hectares of land have already been cultivated in the district this year. But, DAE earlier set a target of cultivating sunflowers on 40 hectares of land in the district with a production target of 48 metric tonnes of oil during this season.

Deputy Director of DAE Abu Mohammad Enayet Ullah said, the DAE distributed improved quality seeds of Sunflower among the farmers of the district.

The crop specialists and field workers of DAE continued rendering their field-level service to let the cultivators know about the modern cultivation methods to cultivate Sunflower crops by using the latest technologies by reducing production costs.

The sources said the cultivation is continuing all over the district, adding that last year Sunflower was cultivated on 76 hectares of land although the DAE set a target to cultivate on 20 hectares of land.