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MULTAN, Dec 21 (APP): The Punjab agriculture department has issued cultivation recommendations for the spring sunflower crop, highlighting its importance as a short-duration oilseed crop.
According to a department spokesperson, sunflower contains around 40 percent high-quality oil and has a crop duration of 100 to 110 days. Due to its short maturity period, it can be easily grown between two major crops. Sunflower can be cultivated twice a year, however, the autumn crop generally yields less than the spring crop.
The department emphasized that timely sowing was crucial for achieving higher yield and better oil content. For this purpose, Punjab has been divided into three zones with specific sowing schedules.
In South Punjab, including districts such as Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Vehari, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Lodhran and others, farmers have been advised to complete sowing by January 31. In Central Punjab districts, sowing time has been fixed from January 1 to January 31, while in North Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal, sunflower can be sown from January 1 to February 15.
Farmers have been advised to use clean, high-germination hybrid seed at the rate of two kilograms per acre, with a germination rate of at least 90 percent. The recommended plant population is 22,000 to 23,000 plants per acre.
The department has also recommended several hybrid varieties, including Hi-Sun-33, T-40318, Agora-4, Gul Bahar-436, Oxen-5270, Reina, S-278, US-666, US-444, NKR Mini and NKS-278.
The spokesperson warned that delayed sowing not only reduces per-acre yield but also decreases oil content, urging farmers to strictly follow the recommended sowing schedule.