Safflower is a highly branched, herbaceous annual plant cultivated mainly for its seed from oil is extracted. These seeds can be used bird feed as well. Silage or feed can be prepared for livestock using this crop. As demand for safflower is going up day by day, commercial growers are showing interest for this crop. Basically, it is a commercially cultivated crop for vegetable oil (extracted from safflower seeds). This crop is a rainfed crop, however can be grown round the clock with proper irrigation facility. When it comes to plant description, these plants are 12 to 58 inches tall with globe flower head having orange, yellow and red colour flowers. Usually, each safflower plant branch will have 1 to 5 flower heads with 15 to 18 seeds (each head). Safflower is originated from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. Safflower is grown on large scale (commercial production of safflower) mainly in India, USA, Mexico, China, Argentina, Russia, Pakistan Ethiopia, Australia, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Iran. Safflower oil and seeds have an excellent health benefits and even used in herbal medicines. Read more: HERE.
