Sunflower cultivation has gained momentum in Madhupur, Tangail, after a local agricultural entrepreneur recorded strong yields, highlighting new prospects for oilseed farming in the pineapple-growing hub.
Gold Medal–winning agricultural entrepreneur Chanwar Hossain has successfully cultivated sunflower flowers on Madhupur’s hilly terrain this season, drawing attention from farmers, officials and visitors alike.
Officials said sunflower was grown in Madhupur under an agricultural incentive programme as an oilseed crop, with favourable weather contributing to good yields for a second consecutive year.
They added that rising edible oil prices have increased demand for sunflower oil, while low production costs and relatively quick returns are encouraging more farmers to shift towards the hybrid crop.
According to the local agriculture office, sunflower cultivation in Madhupur expanded sharply this year, particularly in the hilly unions, with total acreage rising to 48 hectares from 18 hectares last year.
Production covered around 25 hectares this season, six hectares more than last year, reflecting growing farmer interest in oilseed diversification.
Chanwar Hossain, a resident of Mahishmara village in Mahishmara Union, cultivated the BARI-3 variety of sunflower on two bighas of land, saying the crop required less water, fertiliser and pesticide than traditional crops such as paddy.
He said sunflower farming took less time, involved lower input costs and generated higher returns, while the oil extracted from the seeds offered higher nutritional value than mustard or soybean oil.
Local officials said sunflower oil contains a high proportion of beneficial fats and essential nutrients, making it increasingly attractive to consumers.
The fields have also become a point of interest for farmers, students and visitors from nearby areas, many of whom visit regularly to learn about cultivation methods, fertiliser management and disease control.
Chanwar Hossain said he continued to advise visiting farmers and encourage them to adopt sunflower cultivation as part of broader efforts to make agriculture more profitable through crop diversification and modern techniques.
Madhupur Upazila agriculture officials said sunflower was a low-cost, high-return crop well suited to the region’s soil and climate, expressing optimism that cultivation would expand further in Mahishmara and neighbouring unions in the coming seasons.
They added that wider adoption of sunflower farming could help reduce dependence on imported edible oil and boost farmers’ incomes across the region.
