Most advocates for increased sunflower production

The Malawi Oilseed Sector Transformation programme (Most) says sunflower market has a potential market in the country.

Addressing journalists in Lilongwe on Monday, Mostgroup leader Cuan Opperson said it was important to let producers know of well-established companies looking for sunflower for their end products.

He said this would reduce the risk of wastage, as it was the case in the past, whereby, producers were let down by one company which had promised to buy the entire sunflower crop at a fixed price.

“Most believes that if the industry (traders and expellers) makes it known that there’s demand for sunflower, there will be a significant producer response, as various companies have well-known brands and are recognised by producers active in the market,” Opperson said.

He further explained that consultations with the edible oil industry indicated that there was substantial unmet demand for sunflower seed for crushing.

“Industry demand for sunflower stands between 30 000 and 40 000 tonnes per year and currently sunflower production in the country is at 11 000 tonnes per year.

“Foreign exchange shortages hinder the importation of edible oils and the industry has turned to domestic market for oilseed feedstock,” he explained.

Opperson added that the crop is easily produced and requires little effort or inputs to provide a reasonable yield, saying improved crop husbandry could significantly improve yields.

Speaking at the same function, Bio Energy Resources Limited (Berl) chief executive officer Sander Donker concurred with Opperson, saying increased volumes of sunflower would result in expanded employment among traders, loaders and factory workers.

He said Berl produces health oil which is crude as compared to unhealthy imported cooking oil which poses a threat on people’s lives.

“We have the potential to produce required amount of cooking oil in the country. We need to be self sufficient, there is no reason for importation,” Donker said.

He added: “Malawi has a secure market for sunflower seeds. Smallholder farmers must be encouraged to produce the product on a large-scale.”

“We now have more buyers for the product which means the market is secured. The market has now been expanded for producers,” he said.

Donker said incentives have been put in place to inform smallholder farmers on the importance of growing sunflowers.

Meanwhile, Berl is working with sunflower producers from Mchinji, Kasungu, Nkhotakota, Thyolo, Blantyre, Chitipa and Salima.