Shifting away from the traditional paddy-wheat crop cycle, farmers in Ambala are showing increasing interest in cultivating oilseed crops.According to data from the Agriculture Department, as many as 10,112 farmers in Ambala have registered around 37,867 acres under sunflower cultivation for the zaid rabi season.Of the total area, the Saha block accounts for the highest share with 8,178 acres, followed by 7,688 acres in Shahzadpur, around 6,466 acres in Ambala Cantonment, 4,803 acres in Barara, about 3,860 acres in Mullana, around 3,444 acres in Naraingarh, and nearly 3,424 acres in the Ambala City. In comparison, over 21,470 acres were under sunflower cultivation in 2024, which increased to over 22,560 acres in 2025.The minimum support price (MSP) for sunflower this season is Rs 7,721 per quintal. Similar to sunflower, farmers have also shown growing interest in mustard cultivation. While around 7,200 acres were under mustard last year, the area has increased to nearly 8,250 acres this year in Ambala.The farmers and agriculture officials believe that the area under oilseeds will continue to expand.The Agriculture Department officials say that sunflower, being a short-duration crop, allows farmers to grow an additional crop before sowing paddy. This flexibility is one of the main reasons behind the growing interest in oilseeds.Sukhvinder Singh, a farmer from Jalbera village, said, “Last year, I cultivated sunflower on nearly three acres. However, this year, I have increased it to around eight acres. Farmers growing mustard and sunflower instead of only wheat are getting better returns, which is encouraging others to shift. Harvesting will begin around May 20, but procurement starts from June 1. The government should begin procurement earlier.”Jasbir Singh, a progressive farmer from Hamidpur village who has doubled his area under oilseed crops, said, “Last year, I grew sunflower and maize on five acres each. This year, I have sown sunflower on all 10 acres. The crop looks good, and if the weather remains favourable, we expect a good yield. Oilseeds are fetching good prices in the open market and procurement at MSP is also available in Haryana.”“There has been no major insect or fungal attack on the crop this year. The government should ensure timely procurement so that farmers are not forced to sell below MSP to private traders. The area under oilseed crops has been increasing gradually and is likely to grow further,” he added.Malkeet Singh, another sunflower farmer, said, “A gradual shift is underway from the traditional paddy-wheat cycle, as farmers are looking for more remunerative crops. Oilseeds allow farmers to adopt a three-crop system — paddy, mustard and sunflower — instead of just paddy and wheat. Increasing oilseed production is also beneficial for the country. The Haryana Government has announced plans to set up a sunflower oil mill in Shahabad (Kurukshetra), which will further boost production in the region. The crop is also beneficial for soil health.”Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA), Ambala, Dr Jasvinder Singh Saini, said, “The sunflower crop is receiving a strong response from farmers in the district. This year, over 10,110 farmers have registered 37,867 acres under sunflower on the portal. The registered crop will be verified soon. Oilseeds fit well into the three-crop system, which is why they are gaining popularity.”“The farmers’ concerns regarding procurement have also been raised with the department. We organise Kisan fairs to promote oilseeds and encourage farmers to expand cultivation. We expect sunflower and mustard cultivation to increase further in the coming years,” he added.