In Aboke village of Ugenya sub-county in Siaya sits a 4-acre sunflower farm that has not only gained lots of admiration but is also a go-to site for farmers seeking knowledge on sunflower farming.
The farm owned by David Ochieng cultivates sunflowers alongside other crops. The farmer revealed he diverted to sunflower farming due to erratic weather in the region which made other types of crop farming undoable.
“We were accustomed to traditional farming methods, which I also practiced, but climate change forced us to reconsider our approach,” he said.
However, he admitted to struggling to maintain the crop in the initial years due to a lack of knowledge in the agribusiness.
“Learning about new sunflower varieties and adjusting planting patterns was a hurdle, however my interest and passion in sunflower farming kept me going, but the biggest challenge was to find good seeds and the proper knowledge to tend them to fruition,’’ he said.
Is it profitable? Everything you need to know about sunflower farming
On seeds and fertilizers, the farmer said KALRO had introduced him to several seed producers with high-quality seeds and fertilizers through formal training in edible oils farming and value addition.
Unlike Maize, Ochieng says sunflowers are reliable and high yielding. He sells his produce locally once the oil is extracted for Sh340 per liter as well as the by-products such as sunflower cake which is used as animal feed.
“It’s not just about farming; it’s about living in harmony with the land. Growing sunflowers has inspired me profoundly, from securing my livelihood to installing a sense of purpose. I feel like I’ll always be planting seeds for a better tomorrow,” he concluded.
His success has inspired other farmers in the region to undertake the venture. To help them succeed, Ochieng trains the farmers on the best farming practices of sunflower crops.