Sunflower seeds flooding Mandalay market in pre-Thingyan holidays

Before the long holidays of Myanmar New Year (Thingyan Festival), sunflower seeds have been abundantly supplied to Mandalay markets in late March, traders said.
The sunflower seeds are mainly supplied by the Mandalay and Sagaing regions. The price rose to K100,000 per three-basket bag from K60,000 this year, said U Soe Win Myint, an owner of Soe Win Myint depot in Mandalay city.
“Earlier, sunflowers were cultivated as mixed crops. Now, the vast acres of sunflower fields are increasingly seen year after year. The growers have no burden due to low cultivation costs. The State is also encouraging the growers to turn to sunflower crops as it can cut capital outflow from the import of palm oil. This year, a sunflower from Kachin State is entering the market surprisingly. Sunflower oil is good for health. As it is locally produced, the price is affordable. The sunflower meal is used as feedstuff. If sunflower is widely grown in the Ayeyawady region, it can contribute to the self-sufficiency of edible oil,” he elaborated.
There are two types of sunflowers grown in the country, including oil seeds that are mostly grown along the Ayeyawady River, in the Taunggyi and Aungban areas, and seeds for roasted purpose that can be found across the country. — Min Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-Printing House)/EM