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.
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 | 7,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| | | | |
| Nursery Period | 9 Months | 2 Months | 0 |
| | | | |
| Flower & Fruiting | 3 Years | 6 - 9 Months | 4 Months |
| | | | |
| Yield per | 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 |
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