The Hindu Business Line : Time of sowing sunflower seeds is vital in W.Bengal: Survey

THE problems over the yield of sunflower seeds cultivated in West Bengal are influenced more by the time of sowing the seeds, a survey of the areas cropped has revealed.

The survey was conducted by the Hyderabad-based Oilseeds Research Centre (ORC) at the behest of the State Government, which was flooded by reports of farmers running up major losses after taking up sunflower seeds cultivation.

The seeds were mostly distributed among marginal farmers.

The study conducted specifically under the guidance of ORC Director, Mr D.M. Hegde, showed that while climatic conditions in December were ideal for sowing, in many of the areas it was not done before February.

"Day temperatures exceeding 34 degrees Celsius is not at all suitable for flowering of the crop," the study revealed.

Overall production of sunflower has been found to be good with the output touching 1,420 kg per hectare in some instances against the national average of 600.

Sources said that while sunflower cultivation was started in West Bengal two years ago, this was the first year when it was launched in a big way. About 21,000 farmers with a holding of less than one bigha of land were given these seeds by the State Government.

Of these, 500 have had a low output with 50 harvesting a crop of only about 15 kg.

Farmers with bigger plot sizes too have taken up sunflower seed cultivation. About 18,000 ha is under cultivation this season.

The cultivation took place mostly in Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda and Murshidabad (all in North Bengal), in Purulia in the western part of the State and in Nadia in the east, this year.

However, in the past years cultivation took place in Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar also.

Sources said that West Bengal, a net oilseeds importer, has been trying to increase oilseeds production.

Over the years, the State made substantial gains on this front by increasing the area under cultivation on the one hand while improving productivity and it was trying to carry forward the programme this year too as much to increase oilseeds as to introduce alternate crops.

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