• Why is sunflower popular in Malawi?
  • Sunflower, a crop with large golden flowers grown for its edible seeds which yield oil, was in high demand more than two decades ago in Malawi. Smallholder farmers like Phiri in Chitipi, Lilongwe, were able to produce a lot of sunflower and were within reach of making a fortune from it.
  • How much sunflower does Malawi produce annually?
  • Malawi’s annual production of sunflower hovers around 11,000 metric tonnes (mT) despite the increased demand of sunflower at local and international markets. The country’s processor requires around 30-40,000 mT of sunflower seed annually.
  • Why are sunflower prices still unattractive?
  • Despite the increasing demand for sunflowers, prices remain unattractive for farmers like Malika. She currently holds a yield of 1900 kilograms (kgs) from the previous year, but is waiting for improved market prices to sell it, which is equivalent to 38 bags weighing 50kg each.