Sunflower cultivation to help cut Pakistan’s edible oil import bill

Pakistan is spending a sizable chunk of its budget on the import of edible oil and the volume is increasing with each passing day due to the growing population. The heavy import budget is putting more strain on the national coffers, reports WealthPK. Agriculture experts are of the view that the budget being spent on import of edible oil can be controlled if the government promotes cultivation of sunflower countrywide. Talking to WealthPK, Ijaz Ahmed, an agricultural scientist, said according to an estimate, Pakistan annually spent Rs300 billion on the import of edible oil, which was denting its agriculture and economy. He said it was the need of the hour to focus on the products which could lessen edible oil import bill, and sunflower production offered the best solution. Official records of the Punjab government show that Pakistan currently produced only 18% of required edible oil and spent a huge amount on its import. The share of sunflower in the local production of oil stands ...