Helianthus annuus L.
Sharazur sunflower with high oil content cultivated to boost local production
SHARAZUR — A sunflower species with an oil content ranging from 40 to 45 percent has been cultivated in the Kani Panka village of the Sharazur Plain, Sulaymaniyah province, according to research conducted at the Agricultural Research Station in Sulaymaniyah. The plant, Helianthus annuus L., holds potential to reduce Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s reliance on imported cooking oil.
Salam Mohammed, head of the Sulaymaniyah Agricultural Communication Department, said the research, led by engineer Zana Dabbagh over two years, shows promising results. “The findings indicate that this sunflower can provide significant oil yields,” Mohammed said, which could help local production meet the region’s demand for cooking oil.
Currently, a large portion of Iraq’s cooking oil is imported and distributed through public food rations or sold in markets by traders. Only a few small-scale domestic producers manufacture cooking oil, mostly from imported seeds.
The state-subsidized food ration program, initially introduced during the United Nations’ Oil-for-Food Programme in the 1990s, continues today. Each citizen receives seven food items monthly, including one liter of cooking oil. However, the new sunflower species has the capacity to produce up to 45 percent oil, and researchers believe the climate in many parts of Iraq is suitable for its cultivation.
“Research shows that this sunflower can be planted twice annually, and its oil has high-quality chemical and natural properties,” Mohammed added. The seedcake remaining after oil extraction is also rich in protein, making it a valuable feed for livestock.
The sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., commonly known as the common sunflower, is native to North America and part of the Asteraceae family, which includes daisies and other flowering plants.