Sunflower is a good crop for oil production because it offers more benefits compared to selling sunflower seeds. Farmers can sell the by-product, sunflower cake. Mrs. Kamuwikeni plans to buy an oil expeller and connect her farm to electricity so that she can start processing oil on her own.
How much is a bag of sunflower worth in Zambia?
A bag of sunflower, which weighs 25 kilograms, is sold in Zambia for 150 Zambia Kwacha (about $6.60 US). Most farmers prefer to sell their sunflower as seeds and grain rather than process it because they receive sales income immediately. However, by adding value to her sunflower harvest, Mrs. Kamuwikeni is making twice the money she used to make.
Are there different types of sunflower oil seeds?
Several varieties of sunflower oil seeds have been developed by standard plant breeding methods, mainly to vary the amounts of oleic acid and linoleic acid which, respectively, are the predominant monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is a rich source of vitamin E (tables).
What is sunflower oil used for?
Sunflower oil is commonly used in food as a frying oil, and in cosmetic formulations as an emollient. Sunflower oil is primarily composed of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fat, and oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat. Through selective breeding and manufacturing processes, oils of differing proportions of the fatty acids are produced.