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, according to survey report released by The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) at the 6th international seminar on castor held on Sunday.
Average yield for 2007-08 is 1216 kg/hectare as against 1123 kg/hectare during 2006-07. It has increased 8% as compared to the previous year.
The sixth international seminar on castor seed, castor oil & its value added products organised by the SEA was held on February 17 last in Ahmedabad and over 300 delegates from India and abroad participated in the seminar.
This year, SEA once again commissioned Nielsen India to conduct a crop estimation survey for castor seeds in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh (major castor growing states) and the findings were presented at the seminar.
Total area under castor crop in Gujarat (the largest producer of castor) for the season 2007-08 is estimated at 3.54 lakh hectares. It has increased 26% as compared to previous year. Area under castor crop has increased in north Gujarat (37%) and Saurashtra (34%). Area under castor crop has decreased only in Kachchh district. Estimated total production of castor for Gujarat for 2007-08 is 6.51 lakh tonne, up 32% as compared to previous year. Except for Kachchh district, the production in all other districts has increased as compared to previous year. Average yield is 1,838 kg/hectare as against 1,757 kg/hectare during 2006-07.
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.