Sunflower Farming business plan is very straightforward and inexpensive. This plan is recommended for those people who want to start a business with a low budget. There are usually two main costs associated with starting a sunflower Farming business: The cost of planting the sunflowers, and the cost of setting up irrigation systems – are both fixed costs.
Sunflowers can be planted in fields, with row crops, or as part of crop rotation (particularly where nitrogen is deficient). Sunflower plants thrive in warm climates, but are drought resistant and will continue to grow even under adverse conditions. The benefit of the sunflower Farming business plan
- Profit
- Quick return on investment.
- Low cost to start up.
- Low operating costs.
- Low labor requirements.
Contents
Sunflower Farming business plan has some risks
- Risk of disease and pests (particularly aphids).-reliance upon one commercial variety for crop rotation.
- The sunflower plant can be attractive to rabbits and some birds
- Farmers may have to live in remote areas or have off-farm employment to supplement their farming income
- which may play a significant role in overall profitability.
Nutritional benefits of sunflower seeds and oil
- High levels of unsaturated fats (73% as oleic acid, the same type as olive oil).
- Sunflower seeds are rich in protein.
- The minerals that many plants need to grow are already inside a sunflower seed.
- They are high in vitamin E and phytosterols which help reduce cholesterol. -It is considered one of the most nutritious foods for humans.
The financial benefit of sunflower Farming
In 2014, global production of crude oil seeds was 172 million tonnes, led by China and India. European countries, such as Spain and Italy are major producers.
Asia and the United States are the two largest Consumers of oil seeds. In the world, more than 5 million tonnes of sunflower meals are produced for use as livestock feed each year. The major producers are Turkey, Egypt, Russia, and Ukraine.
Environmental Benefits
Sunflowers are a good source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for farming operations. The stems may be burned to reduce high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which can aid domesticated plants that grow poorly without extra CO2 levels.
How to start sunflower Farming?
First, you have to buy farming land with proper facilities and then sow the seeds. Sunflower farming is not as easy as other crops so you have to be very patient in this process.
You have to make sure that your farmland is suitable for sowing sunflowers and you need to prepare the land properly before sowing sunflower seed. You can plant several types of crops along with sunflowers like cotton, paddy, etc. Before planting sunflower seeds, the whole farm needs adequate water storage and a good irrigation system.
Select a good land
The land should be good for sunflower farming. Good soil with proper drainage is required. Sunflowers can be planted in fields. Sunflowers are very drought resistant and will continue to grow even under adverse conditions. Sunflower plants thrive in warm climates, but are drought resistant and will continue to grow even under adverse conditions.
The sunflower plant absorbs more carbon dioxide than other crops and also produces ample oxygen. It is also a great bale crop for hay of high quality. It is better to sow them early before the soil becomes dry and hard. You need not worry about wet sowing because it does not get damaged by frost or rain for a long time.
Best Time For Sunflower Cultivation
The sunflower seed can be planted in any part of the world, even in the winter. Sunflower seeds germinate in 1-3 weeks. They are tolerant to different temperatures and can survive during freezing temperatures.
Choose a Variety
There are several varieties of sunflower seeds available in the market. There are a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes available. Some variety of sunflower seeds is here:
- Delia Sunflower
Delia is a very popular variety of sunflower seeds. It is high in oil content and produces a good yield. You can also sow Delia sunflowers as a fodder crop or seeds on the field.
- Karabar
These are white color seeds and full of protein, low in fat content, and higher than normal oleic acid. They are highly suitable for animal feed.
- YUSUF-15,
- Morden TNAUSUF-7,
- CO-1, CO-2,
- Surya
- SS-56,
- LS-11,
- DRSF 108,
- PAC 1091,
- PAC-47,
- PAC-36,
- Sungenis-85 etc
Seeds Per Acre
2-3 kg per acre for direct sowing. And if you want cultivation hybrid, then 2-2.5 kg per acre.
Spacing
Use spacing of 0.6 meters between the rows. And keep the plant to plant distance of about 0.3 meters. And Sow the seeds at depth of 4-5 cm.
Fertilizing
Use plenty of fertilizers in the fertilized soil. Use the suitable type of fertilizers according to the soil analysis report and crop requirements.
Watering
Keep a check on the moisture of the soil at least once a week and irrigate the plants.
Controlling Weeds
Weed control is very important in sunflower farming. Use weedicides for preventing weed infestation in the field.
Pests & Diseases
The sunflower is susceptible to several pests. Insects, like whiteflies and aphids, attack the flower and leaves. The sunflower can also be affected by diseases like downy mildew, rust, and powdery mildew.
Control
Use proper resistant varieties. Control disease and pests by spraying insecticides and fungicides.
Harvesting
In September, sunflower seeds are harvested from the field. The outer leaves fall easily but the whole plant does not die as a potato plant does. The inner leaves remain green to support the plant for another round of seeds for harvesting. Sunflower seeds yield is about 500-600 kg/ha (2,000-2,400 pounds/acre).
Marketing
Sunflower seeds are sold as food for livestock. For prepared seed, it is used as feed for animals like poultry, rabbits, and turkeys. The kernels are not used as human food but the oil extracted from the seeds is used in various forms of cooking.
Conclusion
I hope that you enjoy this post and I hope that you will come back again because there are always new posts to read! If you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them below.
