Sunflower is the most important oil seed crop in Southern Africa at present, and is being grown in virtually all the summer rainfall areas. In the past, the total area under sunflower production varied from year to year as a result of
climatic factors and market prices. It is expected that the total area under sunflower will stabilise at 500 – 600 000 ha and even increase in future as a result of the following factors: Marginal soils will be utilised more for the production of other crops which are less risky and require lower production inputs. Sunflower conforms to these requirements, It is expected that the demand for vegetable oils and proteins will increase in future. Sunflower is the ideal crop as far as oil production is concerned, Sunflower is an excellent rotation crop which may be cultivated under widely varying climatic and soil conditions, Since the advent of hybrid sunflower the traditional problems such as uneven height and maturity have been largely eliminated, with the result that it is now easier to handle and has become an excellent alternative crop to maize and sorghum, Sunflower normally competes favourably and is a good alternative to the other summer grain crops.