For those who wish to see the breath-taking view of sunflower fields need not cross the Kerala border and go to Gundelpetta. We have our own sunflower fields at Karinjappadi Porunnampara in the Perinthalmanna Kuruva Panchayat, Malappuram district. The number of visitors coming to the beautiful village to enjoy the sight of golden flowers blooming in fields is increasing day by day. Sunflowers are grown here in almost half an acre of land. The famous Karinjappadi fields have fertile soil suitable for sunflower farming and the farmers here are extremely happy about it. They are planning to harvest the sunflowers and take it to the Gundelpetta mills and process to produce oil. Since they contain fibre in abundance, the leaves can be used to make paper and fodder.
Sunflower which is a native of America is rarely grown in Kerala. It belongs to the Asteraceae flower family. It is an annual flower and the oil is fat-free hence very popularly used as cooing oil. For the past 2-3 years, the villagers in Pulamanthol and Northern Paloor have been successfully cultivating sunflowers. Those who wish to see this enchanting sight of sunflower fields can reach Porunnampara through Kottakkal-Perinthalmanna route, turn towards the pocket road for 4km from Chullikkod. There is also another route to reach here from Makkaraparambu.
