A bag of sunflower, which weighs 25 kilograms, is sold in Zambia for 150 Zambia Kwacha (about $6.60 US). Most farmers prefer to sell their sunflower as seeds and grain rather than process it because they receive sales income immediately. However, by adding value to her sunflower harvest, Mrs. Kamuwikeni is making twice the money she used to make.
How much does Naomi kamuwikeni sell a bag of sunflower?
Mrs Kamuwikeni sells a 25-kg bag of sunflowers for 150 Zambia Kwacha ($6.60 US). Alternatively, she can process that bag into 10 litres of cooking oil and sell it for 430 Kwacha ($19 US).
How much does a sunflower cake cost in Zambia?
Mrs. Kamuwikeni can collect a by-product called sunflower cake and sell this to sunflower cake vendors at 1.20 Zambia Kwacha (about $0.05 US) per kilogram. Each 25-kilogram bag of sunflower gives her 10 kilograms of sunflower cake.
Why is sunflower a good crop for oil production?
Sunflower is a good crop for oil production because it offers more benefits compared to selling sunflower seeds. Farmers can sell the by-product, sunflower cake. Mrs. Kamuwikeni plans to buy an oil expeller and connect her farm to electricity so that she can start processing oil on her own.
Is sunflower a profitable crop?
Sunflower is a profitable crop for farmers as they can sell the by-product of sunflower cake. Mrs. Kamuwikeni plans to increase her income from sunflower by buying an oil expeller and connecting her farm to electricity to start processing oil on her own.
Can processing sunflower into oil boost income for small-scale farmers?
According to Bubala Soko, the agricultural extension officer for Kalichiro Agriculture Camp, processing sunflower into oil can help increase income for small-scale farmers. He explains: “Sunflower is a crop that can improve income levels of farmers if they add value to their produce.