Castor Seed:
India is the largest producer of castor seed in the world. The production estimate for 2008-09 is about 10.7 lakh tonnes. India is the major producer with 64 % share in the world castor market, followed by China and Brazil with 23 % and 7 % share respectively. The demand for the castor seed is mainly due to the importance of castor oil for industrial uses in soap, surface coatings, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, greases and lubricants etc. Also the oil is used in a large number of medicines. |
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| Production | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| The total crop of castor seed in the country is estimated at 9.10 lakh tonne for the current season 2007-08, up 16% over the previous season's 7.84 lakh tonne as the total acreage has increased 7% during the current season. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: SEA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The major castor growing states are Gujarat, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. The other states producing castor are Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Orissa and Maharashtra. Total area under castor crop in Gujarat (the largest producer of castor) for the season 2007-08 is estimated at 3.54 lakh hectares. Gujarat produces about 71 % of the castor seeds produce in India. The districts of Mehsana, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad and Kutch are indulged in the production of Castor. It has increased 26% as compared to previous year. Estimated total production of castor for Gujarat for 2007-08 is 6.51 lakh tonne, up 32% as compared to previous year. In Rajasthan, the estimated total production for 2007-08 is 1.43 lakh tonne, 6% rise as compared to previous year and in Andhra, it is 83,000 tonne, up 27% as compared to previous year. Rajasthan produces about 15 % of castor seed produce in India. The districts producing castor are Jalor, Sirohi, Jodhpur and Humangarh. |
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| Season | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Castor is sown during the onset of monsoon (July - August) and harvest during December -January. Marketing season for the castor seed - October to April. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The demand for castor oil is more in the industrialized nation such as the US, European countries etc. The US is totally dependent upon imports to meet the industry and defense needs of castor oil. India is the largest exporter of Castor Oil. A major part of the castor oil produced in this country is exported and the value addition takes place in the importing countries. It exports around 0.2 – 0.24mn tons of commercial castor oil, 50,000 - 60,000 tons of castor seed extractions and 15,000 - 20,000 tons of castor seed. Major markets include Europe, USA, Japan and now China and Thailand. |
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| Major Trading Centers | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| The major trading centre for the castor in : | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gujarat: Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Gondal, Disa, Bhabar. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Andhra Pradesh: Jedcherala, Yemignoor. |
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