Amid PM’s self-reliance call, bid to boost sunflower yield cultivation

Bengaluru: Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for edible oil self-reliance and lower import dependence, Karnataka is attempting to revive sunflower cultivation as the state tries to reverse a decade-long decline in oilseed farming. Once among Karnataka's key oilseed crops, sunflower lost ground after bud necrosis disease outbreaks wiped out yields, forcing farmers to shift to more profitable and climate-resilient crops such as maize and pulses. Agriculture department data shows sunflower and safflower cultivation has fallen to nearly 12% of earlier levels, while groundnut acreage has dropped to about 40%. Soya bean emerged as the only major exception, recording a 1,552.2% increase over four decades. GT Puthra, director, agriculture department, said disease outbreaks and changing farm economics significantly altered cropping patterns in the state. He said after bud necrosis caused widespread devastation, maize cultivation expanded from nearly five lakh hectares to 18 lakh hectares over the years, while tur acreage in rain-fed north Karnataka regions rose from five lakh hectares to 17 lakh hectares. Under the Centre's national mission on oilseeds, the govt has begun distributing improved seed varieties through farmer-producer organisations and seed-producing agencies to improve productivity. "Sunflower once had a major presence in Karnataka's fields," Puthra said, adding that while Madhya Pradesh dominates soya bean production, northern states lead in sesame cultivation. Manju Ajjampura, deputy director of agriculture, said India still imports nearly 56% of its edible oil requirement, resulting in a foreign exchange outgo of around Rs 1.7 lakh crore annually. "Indonesia and Malaysia account for nearly 50% of India's palm oil," Ajjampura said. "Around 30% of soya bean oil comes from Argentina and Brazil, while sunflower oil imports, once largely dependent on Ukraine, are increasingly shifting towards Russia." He said the national mission on edible oils is focused on certified improved varieties less than five years old. "The department has conducted block-level demonstrations of these varieties. We are largely focusing on increasing productivity," he said. In 2025, improved oilseed varieties were cultivated across nearly 41,000 hectares in Karnataka. Officials said subsidies of up to Rs 9.9 lakh are being offered for processing units, while around 900 farmers have been trained in quality seed and oil production under the Atma Nirbhar initiative.