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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.
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