Safflower production anD research in México: status and prospects

 Cervantes-Martínez J. E

Abstract 

In the last three decades, Mexico has been one of the most important countries in safflower production. Safflower was introduced in the late 40s, and cultivated areas increased at such level that in the growing season of 1979-80, 528,000 hectares were harvested with more than 600,000 tons. However since this period, the area decreased dramatically to only about ten percent of the record cultivated area. Low grain yields caused by diseases, drought, and low commercial prices of safflower seed have been the main factors affecting planted area. There are three production regions in Mexico: the Northwest, the Northeast and the Western region. In the Northwest, safflower has been cultivated in an extensive area under irrigated and fertilized conditions with high grain yields, but wheat, maize, cotton and vegetable crops now occupy this production area. In the Northeast and the Western regions, safflower is cultivated mainly under rainfall and non-fertilized conditions with low yields, with sorghum as the competing crop. The availability and use of technologies that allow good yields under high incidence of diseases and water-limited environments will be the main factors stimulating an increase in cultivated area. Moreover, these technologies must include varieties yielding near 40% seed oil content.

Key words: Carthamus tinctorius, production problems, safflower research, Mexico.