Boosting Production: Sunflower cultivation expanded in Magwe Region

The Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation is providing the agricultural inputs for the farmers in Myothit Township of Magwe Region.

Local farmers use to cultivate 60,000 acres of sunflower every year, and for boosting production, plans have been made to expand the cultivation of sunflower acres in this year.

So far, over 2,000 acres of sunflower have already cultivated in the township. In additional to sunflower, other edible oil crops such as peanuts and sesame are also cultivated in the township.

Head, Department of Agriculture, Myothit Township, Zaw Myo Lwin said "We have been engaging in edible oil crop cultivation every year. In a recent year, we have done 2,140 acres of Sunflower. We cultivate 15,000 acres of peanuts, and 80,000 acres of sesame every year. For the development of Myothit Township’s edible oil crop cultivation, we expanded the cultivation acres of sunflower. "

The Department also provided quality seeds to the farmers, while providing good agriculture practice for boosting production.

Local Farmer, Myothit Township said "The Township Department of Agriculture let us engage in mixed sunflower crop cultivation for boosting production of edible oil crop, and provided the quality seeds. It yields 50 baskets of peanuts per acre. We expect 70 or 80 baskets per acre for this year. Especially for sunflower, we expect the yielding of 20 baskets per acre."

The edible oil crops will be cultivated not only in monsoon, but also at the end of the rainy season.