The sunflower industry: a paradigm shift is needed

Sunflower production has rapidly expanded in SA but there is a need to focus on optimising oil content, says Zunel van Eeden, a Master's of Integrated Pest Management candidate at North-West University.

- Zunel van Eeden

Sunflower production in South Africa experienced a notable surge over the past season in area planted, surpassing even the traditionally dominant soya bean crop. In spite of this, producers remain focused on expanding cultivation areas and boosting yields. However, amid this pursuit, a promising yet largely untapped opportunity lies within the seed’s quality and oil content. While attention is primarily directed towards quantity, enhancing the quality of sunflower seeds and optimising oil content presents a compelling avenue for further advancement and profitability within the South African sunflower sector that has not yet been explored.

SUNFLOWER PRODUCTION INCREASING

Though eight of the nine provinces produce sunflower seed, the majority of the crop is produced in the North West and Free State. These drier central and western regions are preferred for sunflower production since the crop grows best in a warm, dry climate. Producers in dryland-producing locations find sunflowers to be a desirable crop due to their general drought tolerance and ability to deliver relatively consistent yields under unfavourable weather conditions.