Local farmers have been growing safflower, an oilseed crop used to produce vegetable oil, for two years now. However, farmers note that the seeds currently available are inferior in yield to foreign equivalents.
Potential of new safflower varieties for Talas
The appeal to President Sadyr Japarov was initiated by a local resident at a meeting with residents of the region. Farmer Rail from the village of Arashan stressed that the search for alternative crops for Talas remains a pressing issue. He recalled the previously stated need to diversify agriculture in the region.
According to the applicant, foreign safflower varieties can provide yields of up to 7–8 tonnes per hectare, while current seeds produce 3–4 tonnes. In addition, the oil content in some foreign varieties is reported to be 15–20 percent higher. These figures are the applicant's estimates and require verification by specialists.
Initiative and next steps
Farmers already working with safflower said they have formed a cooperative with 80 hectares of land, which they are ready to use to grow new varieties and subsequently distribute the seeds.
As a result of the appeal, President Sadyr Japarov instructed the relevant ministries to study the possibility of purchasing and testing these high-yielding seeds from China and Europe.
