Business opportunities inherent in sunflower have, again, been brought to the fore. This time around, an advocate for women and children’s rights, who is also the chairperson of the Sunflower Farmers Association in Gombe State, Dr. Erisa Danladi, has disclosed that she is championing sunflower farming as a highly profitable and less labour-intensive alternative to traditional crops like maize.
The passion of Danladi for sunflower farming was manifested when she noticed farmers cultivating sunflowers alongside millet and maize for local consumption. Intrigued, she took time to learn proper cultivation techniques and soon developed a passion for the crop. Before going into sunflower farming, Dr. Erisa basically cultivated maize, harvesting around 70 bags of maize and soybeans per annum. While she now focuses on sunflower farming, she continues to cultivate maize, combining both crops to diversify her farming venture.
Another benefit of sunflower farming is its low water requirement, making it ideal for dry-season farming with controlled irrigation. Unlike most crops sold in bulk, sunflower seeds are sold by weight, adding another layer of profitability. Danladi revealed that one hectare of land requires approximately one kilogram of sunflower seeds for planting, as she currently manages 10 hectares of sunflower farms on her own, while the association collectively farms 50 hectares, particularly in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area, where the soil is highly favourable for sunflowers.
In Nigeria, sunflower farming is typically done twice a year, during the rainy and dry seasons, and the estimated investment for one hectare of sunflower is around N120,000, with high-quality seeds being a priority to ensure profitability and export potential. In addition to seed sales, sunflower oil is extracted in a process similar to that used for groundnut oil, and it is widely used for cooking. The seeds are also edible and highly nutritious. Sunflower thrives when fertilised with organic fertilizers, particularly animal manure. Danladi noted that this natural fertiliser had become increasingly sought after by farmers, who recognise its benefits while calling on the government to support farmers in the provision of fertilizers and seeds required for cultivation.
FarmingFarmersFarms had earlier published a story on ‘Sunflower Farming in Nigeria’, which can be accessed here, https://farmingfarmersfarms.com/2023/04/sunflower-farming-in-nigeria/, where the National President of the National Sunflower Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NSUNGPMAN), Jibrin Bukar, disclosed that Nigeria has a huge potential to produce sunflower seeds that could generate revenue up to US$3.5 billion. Bukar had called for up-scaling of the production of sunflower in the country, adding that a national sunflower summit was necessary to bring together key players that would promote sunflower farming in the country.
In another interview, the President assured that, “we have been working to ensure that sunflower production gains momentum in Nigeria. Following the founding of our organisation, we approached the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to discuss the creation of a sunflower value chain at the federal level. As a result of our efforts, the ministry approved the sunflower value chain in 2022. Currently, we are working with the Institute for Agricultural Research at the Ahmadu Bello University (in Zaria), to improve sunflower seed genetics for cultivation in the country.
“Our efforts have also led to the development of a national policy for sunflower production in Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, which will be validated soon. Furthermore, as a result of our efforts, the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) is developing a sunflower seed system to ensure that Nigeria cultivates the highest quality crop possible. Our vision is simple – we want Nigeria to be one of the leading countries in sunflower production globally. Currently, we are nowhere near that status, but we aim to be, starting with being the leader in West Africa, like Tanzania is for East Africa. Sunflower oil has a lot of nutritional value, meaning it can have a big impact on the nutritional scene in Nigeria. For one, the oil is cholesterol-free, making it one of the healthier cooking oils, second only to olive oil.
“Sunflower oil can also significantly impact the agricultural scene in Nigeria, as there is a high demand for it. It is the fourth most consumed edible oil globally, after palm, soybean, and canola oils. Sunflower cultivation in Nigeria is relatively straightforward, with few challenges for farmers. The primary challenge we face is related to finance. Without adequate funding, the industry cannot thrive. The availability of funds would motivate farmers to approach sunflower cultivation with greater commitment and enthusiasm. The major challenge of sunflower farming in Nigeria is the lack of funds. The Nigerian government provides some support for sunflower cultivation in the country. However, we believe they can do more, especially through the Ministry of Agriculture.
“Nigerians know little about the cultivation and processing of sunflowers within the country, so they mostly import. There is much work to be done in raising awareness among Nigerians, which our organisation cannot do alone. However, media organisations can help get the word out there. They can spread awareness so that Nigerians know they can purchase locally-made sunflower products. Beyond the citizens, the publicity can also help convince the government, as well as members of the private sector that sunflower cultivation and processing is worth investing in. Sunflower is one of the healthiest edible oils in the world. The programme merely reinforced my dedication to ensuring that the use of sunflower oil becomes widespread across the country.
“We hope the publicity results in investment in the sunflower value chain and, consequently, the growth of the Nigerian sunflower production industry. I would like sunflower to become one of Nigeria’s major foreign exchange-earning crops, alongside cocoa, cashew, and others. My message to potential partners, especially investors, is to come and invest in sunflower production in Nigeria. We have fertile land suitable for cultivating sunflowers on an industrial scale. So, all we require is the financial support to invest in sunflower processing”, Bukar added.
Meanwhile, a Health and Natural Living Speaker, Olufunke Faluyi, has stated that sunflower cultivation and processing in Nigeria presents a promising agricultural opportunity. With the right knowledge and resources, farmers can benefit from this growing industry. By following the right steps, farmers and agribusiness owners can help drive Nigeria’s sunflower production forward, contributing to both local economies and the global sunflower oil market while making reference to the study titled, ‘Therapeutic Potential of Sunflower Seeds: An Overview’ by Nandha, Singh, Garg and Rani (2014), she informed that the use of sunflower seeds in our day-to-day life can provide us much of the recommended level of phenolic antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and proteins.
Not only that, sunflower seeds are easily available, accessible and intensely nutritious food, which possess a promising role in a variety of infections, inflammations, cancer and cardiac diseases. Recently, NASC and NSUNGPMAN paid a visit to the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru, Kaduna State, where it was restated that sunflower is very important in Nigeria and reinventing the value chain is critical to sustainable production of the crop and that NASC was keen in supporting the institute to develop the sunflower seed system and encourage the private sector to participate in the sustainable development of sunflower in Nigeria.
