Golden Sunflower fields bloom in Ishwardi
Pabna Correspondent :
With the arrival of spring, nature has turned vibrant and colorful. The surroundings have dressed in a fresh new look spreading a magical shade of yellow across the lush greenery.
This charm has been amplified by vast fields of blooming sunflowers. The breathtaking scenery is drawing nature lovers again and again.
The sunflower, a stunning creation of nature, stands gracefully in full bloom. One cannot help but be mesmerized by its radiant golden beauty.
From a distance, it appears as if a giant yellow carpet has been spread across the fields. Up close, thousands of smiling sunflower faces greet visitors. Facing the sun, the flowers sway gently in the breeze, as if inviting everyone to admire their beauty.
In the late afternoon, bees remain busy collecting nectar, while butterflies gather throughout the day in a lively floral fair. Such a picturesque natural scene can captivate anyone.
This enchanting view can be witnessed at the BARI-3 sunflower project of the Ishwardi Regional Agricultural Research Center.
A vast area within the research center has been cultivated with sunflowers for seed production. Additionally, about three hectares of land in the char areas of Sarda and Lakshmikunda unions have also been brought under sunflower cultivation.
The entire area is now covered in golden hues. Visitors crowd the fields throughout the day. Recently, images and videos of these sunflower fields have gone viral on social media.
Every day, numerous people are coming to enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty. Some immerse themselves in the scenery, some capture memorable moments with their cameras, while others create TikTok videos.
Visitor Alamgir Hossain said, “I have never seen so many sunflowers together before.
It has refreshed my mind and soul. I feel wonderful.”
Another visitor, Sanchita Karmakar, said, “We came here to enjoy the open air and see the flower-filled garden. The natural environment is incredibly beautiful. We are capturing these lovely moments in our camera frames.”
According to the Agriculture Office, the soil and climate of Ishwardi are highly suitable for sunflower cultivation. With relatively low cost and short duration, farmers can expect good profits.
The BARI-3 variety is a short plant with a strong stem, making it less vulnerable to storm damage.
Sunflowers can produce oil, oilcake, and even fuel. Approximately half a liter of oil can be extracted from one kilogram of seeds. Per bigha, 7-10 maunds of seeds can be produced, yielding around 140 to 200 liters of oil.
The market price of sunflower oil ranges from 250 to 300 taka per liter. The maximum production cost per bigha is around 3,500 taka.
Senior Scientific Officer Dr. Akhtar-uz-Zaman of the research center stated that the government is emphasizing sunflower cultivation to reduce the country’s edible oil deficit.
Expanding the BARI-3 variety could increase domestic production and reduce dependency on imports.
