Sunflower Farming in India: Is it Profitable?

August 20, 2023

Sunflower farming is a popular crop in India, but is it profitable? A recent report from Agrowon found that farmers in Bhandara district produced 70 quintals of sunflower seeds from 10 acres of land. This is a yield of 700 kg per acre, which is at the lower end of the global average yield.

The total cost of cultivation for the 10 acres was Rs. 200,000, which works out to Rs. 20,000 per acre. The farmers were able to sell their produce for Rs. 3,500 per quintal, which gives them a revenue of Rs. 2,45,000. This means that the farmers made a profit of Rs. 45,000.

However, the government of India has set a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs. 6,760 per quintal for sunflower seeds. If the farmers were able to sell their produce at the MSP, they would have made a profit of Rs. 2,73,200. This works out to a profit of Rs. 23,320 per acre.

The MSP is not always guaranteed, so farmers may not be able to sell their produce at this price. However, it is still a good benchmark to use when evaluating the profitability of sunflower farming.

In order to increase their profits, farmers can sell their sunflower seeds as oil and de-oiled cake. The wholesale rate of sunflower oil is Rs. 113 per liter, and the wholesale rate of de-oiled cake is Rs. 19 per kg. If the farmers were able to sell their entire produce as oil and de-oiled cake, they would have made a revenue of Rs. 3,96,200. This is well above the MSP, but it would require the farmers to set up a mini oil mill and ensure sufficient raw material supply to keep the de-oiling machinery in motion.

Overall, sunflower farming can be a profitable crop for Indian farmers, but it is important to factor in all of the costs and risks involved. Farmers should also aim to produce a high yield of sunflower seeds in order to maximize their profits.

Here are some tips for increasing the yield of sunflower seeds:

Choose a variety of sunflower that is suited to your climate and growing conditions.
Plant the seeds in well-drained, fertile soil.
Water the plants regularly, especially during the flowering stage.
Apply fertilizer at the time of planting and again during the flowering stage.
Control pests and diseases.
Harvest the seeds when they are mature and dry.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of producing a high yield of sunflower seeds and making a profit from sunflower farming.