Farmers shun castor on sustained low prices

With castor growers shifting to more remunerative crops such as pulses in the current kharif season, sowing of the oilseed has taken a beating in Gujarat, the largest grower.

Castorseed prices have remained under pressure for a sustained period since 2012 and hovered in the range of ₹3,325-3,400 a quintal in the spot market. The peak was seen in February 2011 at ₹6,000.

So far, this kharif season, castor acreage was reported at 2,12,200 hectares, which is about 70 per cent less than the 3-year average acreage of 7,14,400 hectares, thereby indicating a lower crop.

“The reasons for decline in castor sowing is primarily the lower prices for a sustained period. And because of this, farmers are shifting to other remunerative crops such as dals (tur or urad). But currently, it is premature to comment on the scenario of castor crop because the real sowing outlook will be clear only after September 15,” said Haresh Vyas, Co-Chairman, SEA Castorseed & Oil Promotion Council, adding that the crop is likely to be lower than last year.

A lower crop would mean a higher prices for the castorseed in the coming months. According to the Neilson India’s castor crop estimates for 2015-16, castor acreage in Gujarat was 7,81,000 hectares in 2015-16, whereas nationally total castor acreage was 11,36,000 hectares.

Castor is an important cash crop for India considering the international demand for castor oil and its derivatives like sebasic acid in the industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, lubricants, paints and adhesives, food, paper, plastics, rubber, textile chemicals, besides agriculture and others.

India is the largest producer of castorseed in the world with about 85 per cent share in the global supply.

Considering the significance of the crop and its economic importance, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) has taken up the crop improvement measures to increase castor yield in the country, which currently hovers around 1,200-1,400 kg/hectare. “However, there is a potential to increase the productivity to over 2,000 kg/ha, provided the farmers follow the pre- and post- “good agronomy” practices coupled with use of correct inputs like good quality of seed, fertiliser, pesticides, etc,” SEA said while announcing the project.

A pilot project is planned to be rolled out in North Gujarat districts of Banaskantha and Aravali.

The Association has decided to set up model farms at these districts to showcase the farmers how to achieve the higher yield and thereby higher returns per hectare. The project will be supervised by the agriculture scientists and progressive farmers.

In November when the castor seed crop will be ready, SEA plans to organise “Kisan Mela” to showcase the benefit of innovations to achieve higher yield.

On success of this project, next year all the districts of Gujarat and Rajasthan will be covered under this project.

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