Post by Trade facilitator on Aug 19, 2022 17:47:30 GMT 1
Sunflower export from Nigeria is a very lucrative business, but many investors and farmers are not yet aware of this venture because of ignorance.
Statistics show that Europe is one of the largest and most important producers of sunflower seeds in the world today.
However, Europe’s market demand for sunflower exceeds production, and this provides interesting opportunities to suppliers from other parts of the world especially Nigeria.
This is the reason why Nigeria and other African countries have the opportunity of keying into the business.
Even though the majority of sunflower seed production is destined for the production of sunflower oil, the market for confectionery/bakery-grade seeds is growing daily.
Sunflower seeds are used in bakery products, but also in a number of products such as healthy snacks and for direct consumption (in-shell or as kernels).
According to Wikipedia, The sunflower seed is the seed of the sunflower. There are three types of commonly used sunflower seeds: linoleic, high oleic and sunflower oil seeds. Each variety has its own unique levels of monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats.
Product definition
Sunflower seeds originate from the sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus), it is named after its sun-shaped flower head, and are native to North-America.
It is reported that during the Spanish exploration of the Americas, sunflower spread to Europe and in more recent times has become a major commercial crop.
The leading producers of sunflower seeds in the world are Russia, Ukraine, Argentina, China and Kazakhstan.
The light-weight sunflower seeds provide a firm texture and mild nutty taste, making both the oil and edible seeds excellent as a food ingredient.
The high vitamin E and multiple nutrients and minerals content make sunflower seed a healthy ingredient for human consumption.
The seeds can be salted or roasted for direct consumption, but they are often processed in baking or confectionery industries.
Product specification
Quality
Sunflower seeds are categorized into two main types that differ in size, colour of the hull and application:
1) Confectionery type: large-sized, striped sunflower seed husks are processed or used for direct consumption (roasted, salted – common in Mediterranean countries). The seeds are often shelled and the kernel is sold in the bakery industry, e.g. used as a topping in breads, cakes, etc. In-shell sunflower seeds are used widely in the bird feed industry too;
2) Black / crushing type: The thin and smaller black sunflower seeds are mainly used for crushing (to produce sunflower oil).
The black sunflower seeds have relatively high oil content (between 39-49%). The distinct size also makes them directly usable for bird feed.
When planning to use sunflower, make sure that the raw material (i.e. sunflower seeds) is fresh and that there are no long delays between harvesting and extraction. Sunflower seeds should also be free from sand, stalk, plant debris and other foreign materials.
Some of the most important quality factors concerning sunflower seeds are: odour, flavour, oil content, moisture content, colour, size, uniformity of seeds, purity and damaged/mouldy seeds.
Sunflower seeds should also be free from mycotoxins and harmful microbiological activity. Aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin contamination are known to be a problem for many producers, and buyers closely monitor these aspects by testing before shipment and after arrival.
Procedures to follow to keep your sunflower in good shape for export:
Prevent contamination by keeping facilities and equipment clean.
Install metal detectors to be able to remove metal foreign matter.
Ensure proper storage, transportation and packaging.
Organic (if relevant or requested for)
Comply with organic standards for the production of sunflower seeds.
Sunflower Seeds Egusi Soup
The Sunflower Seeds "Egusi" soup, prepared with sunflower seeds is a great alternative to your normal Egusi Soup. It tastes like Egusi Soup prepared with egusi seeds. Sunflower seeds are a great alternative ingredient for those who live outside Nigeria in a place where egusi seeds are not available.
How to prepare Sunflower Seeds "Egusi" Soup:
Preparing Sunflower Seeds “Egusi” Soup is easy, just replace egusi with sunflower seeds and use the same method of preparing the classic Egusi Soup to achieve similar results.
Gombe State is the major producer of sunflower in Nigeria, and generally, the North East produces more than any other zone of Nigeria. In fact, the North Eastern part has the highest potential of producing sunflower.
Stay with us for the continuation of this article.
Our company is one of the best companies in Agro-Export Business in Nigeria today, we train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Export Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.
