Safflower Seed, Oil & MealIn India,
Safflower seed is a rabi crop harvested during March/April. Majority
of it is produced in Western India. The production for 2006-07 was 1,90,000 tons
whereas the estimated production figure for 2007-08 has decline to 1,70,000 tons
mainly due to decline in acreage by around 10% from 3.5 lakh hectare to 3.15 lakh
hectare. India is one of the major producers of Safflower seed with U.S.,
Mexico and China being the other ones. Indian safflower seed has special
demand as bird seed due to its bold size and whitish colour. It is also
known to be used as a substitute for sunflower seed in birdfeeders. Indigenously,
use of safflower oil as cooking medium is on increase due to low saturated
fats. Its flowers are known to be used for industrial and medicinal purposes.
Undecorticated safflower seed extraction with 20% crude protein rich in
methionine is useful as an ingredient in formulated poultry feed. It is also used
in cattle feed along with other meals such as cotton seed meal. Safflower meal
is obtained by crushing its seeds for oil and further extracted and meal is formed
as its by-product. Europe, Japan & Taiwan are major importers
of safflower seed from India. Export of safflower meal and safflower oil is almost
nil as they have good domestic market where the price realisation is better than
in the international market. The edible oil prices at national and international
level mainly affects the safflower seed prices as its major quantity is used for
crushing to obtain oil. It also sometimes move in tandem with niger seed as both
are used as bird seeds. Commodity prices of safflower meal tends to move in conjunction
with prices of other oilmeals and oilcakes. | 
