In coastal Subarnachar upazila in Noakhali, sunflowers are adding not only beauty to the landscape, but hope. Fields previously uncultivated for their saline soils and lack of access to irrigation are now awash with the yellow flowers, bringing new life to the local economy.

“I spent Tk 8,000 to grow sunflowers on an acre and earned Tk 24,000 from the harvest,” says one farmer, Abul Hossain from Charbata union. “As a new crop it's not easy to sell the sunflowers but we hope sales opportunities will improve over time.”

He also notes difficulty in accessing credit for the crop. “Most local farmers are sharecroppers,” says Hossain. “They rely on loans to get started. Many more farmers would like to grow sunflowers if collateral-free finance was available.”

The idea of sunflowers as a commercial crop first reached the area in 2015, when a private firm grew the plant on 35 acres on an experimental basis. Farmers were encouraged by the low production cost and healthy investment return; more so that the flowers thrive in saline soils.

This year sunflower fields cover 515 acres in the area, with production rates of some other crops including watermelons, peanuts and soybeans having fallen in favour of sunflowers.

“Sunflowers could be a major cash crop in the sandy char (landmass emerging from riverbed) areas of Noakhali,” remarks Dr Md Abul Hossain, deputy director at the district's agriculture department office.

“We plan to assist farmers in marketing their crop. Government initiative in providing accessible loans to sharecroppers would also help the industry develop,” he said.