Did you know that there’s an especially high need for sunflower seeds as well as oils in India which is the reason we import them from other countries like Brazil, Ukraine, and Russia? However, that doesn’t mean that we don’t have farmers growing sunflowers in our native areas. There is plenty of area of land that we cultivate and grow here in terms of sunflowers. Today, we will inform you about the top five most sunflower-producing states in India in 2024. Here we go.
1. Karnataka – 103,400 tonnes
Karnataka is the biggest manufacturer of sunflowers within India and has a record-breaking of 103,400 tonnes. It is close to 50% of India’s production at 48.65 percent. This state is ideal for sunflower cultivation, since it has the ideal climate and soil. In the central region in Karnataka, Kalyana Karnataka, farmers have largely replaced traditional agriculture with sunflowers. They’ve done this since they are much more lucrative and highly sought-after. Yes, over the years, some districts specifically Raichur, Koppal, and Yadgir have experienced significant growth in their sunflower farms.
2. Orissa – 20,960 tonnes
Orissa is the second state on the list with 20960 tons of sunflowers. The state is responsible for approximately 9.46 percent of the sunflowers in India. The district as well as the state has the potential to cultivate sunflowers with success since the environmental conditions are quite favorable. However, this is not enough to take away the bleak state of affairs. There’s a drop in the areas in which sunflowers are grown. the yield is about 444 ha. The dramatic decline can be due to a variety of issues, including poor soils, a lack of marketing of the commodity and insufficient processing facilities.
3. Haryana – 16,800 tonnes
Haryana produces 16800 tons of sunflowers, which contribute 7.90 percent of the total national output. The state has increased the areas of the cultivation of sunflowers, particularly in particular in the Ambala region. The production of sunflowers has faced challenges such as price fluctuations on the market, and also the loss of damages caused by rain, but still, it is the top choice of local farmers since it is a young maturing crop and is able to be intercropped with other crops for improved yield and health of the soil in the field.
4. Maharashtra – 12,120 tonnes
Maharashtra provides 12,120 tons of the total production of sunflower in India. The state’s cropping strategy is focused on the growth of various oilseeds due to their high in demand in the marketplace and are also profitable for farmers. Determining which crops to plant in Maharashtra is determined by strategies like crop rotation, as well as intercropping sunflower along with other oilseeds because sunflower isn’t a cereal, but is used primarily as oil. By doing this farmers can make the best use of their area and make more money thus spreading the financial risk for farmers.
5. Bihar – 11,480 tonnes
In the end, Bihar, producing 11,480 tonnes, accounts for 5.40 percent of India’s total sunflower production. In Bihar the cultivation of sunflowers has remained pretty consistent over time and it’s likely to remain the same for quite time.
FAQs
Q1. Can sunflowers be produced in India?
Answer: Yes, sunflowers are grown on approximately 1.48 million acres in India. The yield is around 0.6 tons per an acre.
Q2. How fast do sunflowers grow?
The answer: Sunflowers grow very quickly. They can reach 12 feet in less than three months. When the weather conditions are favorable the sunflowers typically take between 70-100 days to fully develop after being planted.
Q3. Does India import sunflower oil?
Answer: Yes, India mostly imports palm oils via Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Also, it imports sunflower oil and soybean oils from Argentina, Brazil, Russia as well as Ukraine.
Q4. Does India export sunflower oil to other countries?
Answer: Yes, India exports a large portion refined sunflower oils into Singapore, Nepal, and the United States.
Q5. Does India export sunflower seeds?
The answer: In 2022, India exported $1.55 million worth of sunflower seeds. The primary purchasers were Philippines and India, United States, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, and Japan.
Q6. Is it possible to import sunflower oil with no duty in India?
The answer: In May 2022, India allowed duty-free imports of 2 million tonnes of sunflower oil during the period 2022/23. It was planned to continue the same in 2023/24. This is, in fact, the situation, at least, for the moment.
