Golden shift on Teesta: Sunflowers replace tobacco in Lalmonirhat's char lands
For the first time, sunflower is being cultivated commercially in the area under an agricultural development project aimed at reducing tobacco farming and increasing edible oil production.
A quiet but striking transformation is unfolding on the sandy char lands of Govardhan, on the banks of the Teesta River in Mohishkhocha Union under Aditmari Upazila.
Where tobacco once stood as the dominant crop, fields are now awash with the bright yellow of blooming sunflowers, signalling a new economic possibility for farmers in Lalmonirhat.
For the first time, sunflower is being cultivated commercially in the area under an agricultural development project aimed at reducing tobacco farming and increasing edible oil production.
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The change is not merely visual; it is financial.
Farmers say the numbers speak for themselves. Cultivation costs range between Tk6,000 and Tk7,000 per bigha, while seeds are selling for around Tk30,000 per bigha.
With limited irrigation, just two or three rounds, and proper fertiliser application, growers are earning around Tk30,000 per bigha, making the crop an attractive alternative to tobacco.
Abu Bakkar Siddique, one of the pioneering farmers behind the initiative, described the current season as particularly successful.
"The yield has been very good this year," he said, adding, "People are coming from far and wide to see the sunflower fields. Many are interested in cultivating it themselves because the costs are low and the profits are higher."
Yet Bakkar cautioned that sustained success will depend on proper marketing arrangements.
"If marketing support is ensured, the banks of the Teesta could become green and golden, free from tobacco," he added.
Agriculture officials are actively backing the transition. Under the Agricultural Technology Extension Project, the Department of Agricultural Extension is distributing free seeds and fertilisers to participating farmers.
The broader objective is to discourage tobacco cultivation, long associated with health and environmental concerns, and to boost domestic edible oil production.
Pradeep Kumar Roy, deputy assistant agriculture officer in Aditmari, said the char area had previously been synonymous with tobacco farming.
"With the initiative of farmer Abu Bakkar and support from the Agriculture Office, profitable sunflower cultivation is now taking place," he said, confirming that the department has provided seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and technical advice.
Currently, sunflowers are being grown on five bighas of land in Mohishkhocha and Durgapur unions under the project, according to Omar Faruk, upazila agriculture officer in Aditmari.
He expressed optimism that the crop could emerge as a strong substitute for tobacco while helping meet the country's growing demand for edible oil.
"We are providing free support to discourage tobacco cultivation. Sunflower is not only profitable, but it is also very beneficial for human health," Faruk said.
Beyond its economic promise, the sunflower bloom has brought an unexpected social impact, he said.
With few recreational facilities in the char area, the vibrant fields have drawn visitors from various places.
Many arrive to admire the sweeping yellow landscape; others leave with practical knowledge about a crop that could reshape the region's farming future.
Officials hope the success in Govardhan char will inspire wider adoption across the Teesta basin, turning what was once a tobacco stronghold into a landscape defined by sustainable cultivation and renewed rural optimism.
