Why is the demand for sunflower oil increasing in Tanzania?
Widespread adoption of improved seed is one important driver of increased production of sunflower oil in Tanzania, already one of the largest producers of the crop in Africa. And with sunflower processors investing in more than 50,000 metric tons of processing capacity, demand for sunflower from farmers is increasing. Setting up for change at scale
Which country produces sunflower oil?
Tanzania is one country among others in the world producing sunflower oilseeds for raw materials in processing cholesterol-free edible cooking oil with a by-product used as livestock feeds. Currently sunflower oil makes about 13% of the world edible oil production.
Is sunflower a reliable source of raw material for edible oil processing?
The report stresses that in recent years, sunflower has gained prominence as an industrial crop that offers a reliable source of raw material for edible oil processing factories. In the 2021 study, rice and sunflower replaced pigeon pea and soya bean, two of the four focus crops for TASAI¡¯s 2017 study of Tanzania.
Is sunflower a viable source of vegetable oil in Tanzania?
The review focuses on Tanzania, where smallholder farmers mainly produce sunflower as a cash crop and a source of vegetable oil. The crop¡¯s production is threatened by decreased soil fertility, attack by pests and disease, limited rainfall, and the high cost of inputs like fertilizers and chemicals.