The damage caused by the birds has affected the crop yield
Sunflowers in full bloom at a field near Erode.
The bright yellowish, large-headed flowers that follow the sun have almost vanished from the landscape of Erode district.
The acerage under sunflower cultivation has declined to 100 hectares in the previous fiscal and the agriculture officials here fear that it may fall below 50 hectares this year. In 2007-08, the district had over 7,600 hectares covered under sunflower. But it fell down to 1,098 hectares in 2008-09. the total acerage under sunflower stood at 116 hectares during the previous fiscal.Agriculture officials and scientists are not sure of the causes for the crop becoming so unpopular among farmers in the district. A few officials here claim that the damage caused by the birds has affected the crop yield, which made the farmers to switch to other crops.
“The farmers find it extremely difficult to protect the crop from the birds. The crop suffered huge damage as the sunflower seeds are favourite food for birds like parrots,” a senior officials in the agriculture department say.
The crop is suitable for almost all types of soil. It gives better yield in the black soil. But one can cultivate the crop in most types of soil. The seeds fetch a good price in the market as the demand for sunflower oil is growing at a faster rate in the country, officials point out.
The department has been encouraging the farmers to take up the crop as it requires less water. “But many farmers in the district are not willing to take up the crop,” the official says.
The department, however, had planned to conduct awareness programmes to encourage farmers to increase the acerage under oilseeds including sunflower.
Source: The Hindhu 7 July 2012