Borneo Castor Farming

Introduction

The castor oil plant, Ricinus Communis, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbaceae. Its seed is called castor bean and it is the source of castor oil. Although castor is indigenous to the Egypt, Ethiopia and India, today it is widespread throughout tropical regions such as China, Brazil and Thailand.

Although the seeds are extremely poisonous, they are the source of numerous economically important products, such as lubricant for aerospace industry and are one of the earliest commercial products. To many people the castor plant is just an overgrown, undesirable weed and yet it produces one of neture's finest and economically important natural oils.

Global castor seed production is more than 1.5 million tons per year. The major producing countries are India (with over 60% of global yield) follow by China, Brazil and Thailand.

WHY GROW CASTOR ?

· Short harvesting period of 120 days.

· Minimum 3 harvests per annum

· Average production of 8 MT per acre/annum

· Perennial crop of minimum 5 years

· A buy back Agreement

· Castor plantation can improve soil and environmental quality

COMPARISON BETWEEN CASTOR AND OIL PALM

	Oil Palm	JATROPHA	CASTOR OIL

Planting Cost per Acre	7,000	5,000	*5,000*

Nursery Period	9 Months	2 Months	0

Flower & Fruiting	3 Years	6 - 9 Months	*4 Months*

Yield per Acre /Annum	14 MT	4 MT	*8 MT*

FFB / Seed Price	USD150 per MT	USD200 per MT	*USD375 per MT*

Oil Extraction Rate	20%	32%	*50%*

Crude Oil Price	USD750 per MT	USD 800 per MT	*USD1,500 per MT*