High-yielding sunflower variety reintroduced in Lango to boost production

LIRA CITY, September 16, 2025 – Syova Seed [U] Limited has reintroduced the Agsun 8251 sunflower seed variety in the Lango sub-region as part of efforts to revitalise sunflower production, one of Uganda’s key oilseed crops.

The launch event took place last Friday at Good News Hotel in Lira City, and was attended by agro-input dealers, cooperative leaders, oil millers, and representatives from Lira City, and Lira district local governments.

The Lango Sub-region comprises 10 districts, including Lira, Kole, Oyam, Kwania, Apac, Dokolo, Otuke, Alebtong, Amolatar, and Lira City.

According to Johnson Mugisha, Sales and Marketing Manager at Syova Seed [U] Ltd, the reintroduction is aligned with several national efforts aimed at boosting oilseed production. These include the National Oilseeds Project [NOSP], the now-defunct National Agricultural Advisory Services [NAADS], and public-private partnerships such as the Agribusiness Initiative Trust [aBi Trust].

“This product is climate-resilient and has high yield potential. We’ve brought it back under the slogan: “The oil giant in your field,” said Mugisha. “Sunflower is a crucial crop in northern Uganda, yet Uganda’s overall vegetable oilseed production remains low compared to global standards.”

Mugisha cited international figures showing that while global sunflower production in 2024 reached 56 million metric tonnes, a 4.7 percent drop from the 2023 record of 59 million metric tonnes, Uganda’s 2022 output was just 290 metric tonnes. This is in stark contrast to the national consumption of vegetable oil, which stands at 480 million tonnes, with only 8,000 tonnes produced locally. The remainder is imported.

Concerns over past failures and counterfeits

Patrick Alip, the Lira District Senior Agricultural Officer and chief guest at the launch, voiced cautious optimism, noting that the Agsun 8251 sunflower seed variety had previously failed farmers in the region.

“This isn’t a launch—it’s a re-launch,” said Alip. “Agsun seeds were here before but disappeared amid confusion. It’s our hope that this time, they will not fail the farmers again.”

Alip also raised serious concerns over counterfeit seeds in the market, blaming some agro-input dealers for facilitating their spread.

“The biggest threat to this initiative has been counterfeit seeds, often circulated through agro-input dealers. We’ve received numerous complaints through various government agencies. Seeds are life, and as government, we are committed to enforcing the law to its fullest extent.”

He urged Syova Seed and Mukwano Group to improve packaging to help curb counterfeiting.

“We advise you to use secure, one-time-use packaging. Currently, unscrupulous dealers buy used branded seed packets for as little as Shs 5,000 to repackage fake seeds.”

Dealers and farmers raise concerns

Lira City Agricultural Officer, Denis Osborn Ocaya, called on agro-input dealers to commit to selling only genuine seeds, noting that many farmers rely on government loans such as those under the Parish Development Model [PDM] initiative.

“Farmers use loans from programmes like PDM with the expectation of making a profit and repaying. If they’re sold fake seeds, they incur losses and fail to repay. In that case, the dealers are not just harming farmers, but sabotaging government programmes,” Ocaya said.

Susan Acen, Chairperson of the Lango Agro-Input Dealers Association, acknowledged the challenges they’ve faced in sourcing reliable sunflower seed varieties. She appealed to Syova Seed [U] Ltd.to provide affordable prices.

“We’ve struggled with access to quality sunflower seeds. Thank you for bringing them in time for this planting season. But please ensure the pricing is fair so farmers can afford them,” Acen said.

Company assures of improved quality

In response to concerns about seed viability, Syova Seed [U] Ltd’s Chief Operating Officer, Sudhakar Hanumanthapa, assured stakeholders of the improved performance of the Agsun 8251 variety.

“These issues have been addressed. The seed has been refined and improved, and its germination rate now stands at 99 percent. We encourage you to plant them with confidence. For agro-input dealers, consider conducting demonstration plots to see the results yourselves,” Hanumanthapa urged.

Globally, the leading producers of sunflower are Russia, Ukraine, and Argentina, with China also among the top producers. Uganda aims to close its production gap through initiatives like this, particularly in oilseed-rich regions such as Lango.

https://thecooperator.news/karamoja-sunflower-farmers-ask-govt-for-value-addition-facility/

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