Sunflower, one of the major sources of edible vegetable oils, may not be a preferred crop among farmers of Karur and Tiruchi districts as paddy and banana crops continue to attract them thanks to availability of irrigated water supply. However, a few farmers in the fringe areas of Karur and Tiruchi districts have made a new beginning by cultivating the crop – of course in a small way.
The crop has been raised on a few hundred acres in Kalingankadu, Thongamalai, and Ayyarmalai. The crop, which was raised about 70 days ago, has almost come to the stage of harvesting. Some farmers have harvested the crop a few weeks ago.
Though farmers did not intend to make them as demonstration plots, the striking colours of sunflowers attract passersby and neighbouring farmers. Many of them invariably stop a while at the sunflower field. Some of them enquire with the farmers, who had raised the crop.
“After trying a number of various vegetable crops, I have raised the sunflower on three acres of my land on a pilot basis. I may or may not earn profit. But, I am happy that I have passed inputs about the method of cultivation to many farmers in the region,” says V.Sangapillai of Kalingankadu. A.Sadayandi, another farmer, said that the results were encouraging.
