Sunflower Seed, Oil & MealSunflower
seed is one of the most important oilseed during Indian Rabi season getting
harvested from Feb. It is mainly grown in Western and Southern part of
India. The 2006-07 production was arond 1.6 million tons. The Sunflower
seed production has registered a quantum growth with Sunflower Oil gaining
popularity as a cooking medium in recent years. The other major producers
of sunflower seeds are Russia & Ukraine. The oil content in Indian
Sunflower seed ranges between 38 and 44% whereas protein content is 18-25%. The
seeds contain hull with a high fibre and wax content and low protein content,
which are considered as big obstacles for obtaining a better yield of oil and
a high quality protein meal. In order to overcome these constraints the seeds
are dehulled. So in recent years, exporters have invested in developing technology
for Hulling of Sunflower Seeds. Sunflower meal is obtained by crushing
its seeds for oil and oilcake which is further sent for extraction to obtain remaining
oil and its meal. Sunflower seed is harvested from feb onwards. It is popular
as bird seeds. But with the growth in consumption of sunflower oil, it is mainly
crushed for obtaining edible oil so the production of meal too is good enough
to create local and some international demand. Sunflower meal is widely used
as protein material for animal feed. Meal contains about 30% crude protein with
30% fibre. It is superior to most vegetable proteins in digestibility. Seed is
also known to be used as bird seed. Major destinaions for
Indian sunflower seeds are Pakistan, U.K, China, Netherlands, Philippines &
Poland. The export of Indian Sunflower meal is very limited as compared soybean
meal and rapeseed meal with Thailand being the major buyer. India imports
sunflower oil mainly from Ukraine, Russia and Argentina. | 
