Niger Seed

Niger seed, the seed of Guizotia abyssinica, comes from an erect, stout, branched annual herb grown for its edible oil and seed, producing small black seeds that resemble a smaller version of sunflower seed. The plant originated in the Ethiopian Highlands and Eritrea and is now cultivated across Ethiopia, Africa, India and Southeast Asia, and is also sold worldwide as birdseed, rebranded Nyjer by the birdseed industry to avoid pronunciation confusion. Its uses include birdfeed, especially for finches, a culinary ingredient in South Indian chutneys and curries, and oil production, with the seed yielding about 30 to 35 percent of its weight in a clear, slow-drying, edible oil also used in soap and paint. Under favorable conditions it yields 300 to 400 kilograms per hectare, up to 600 in the best conditions, and it tolerates unfavorable climates with moderate rainfall.