In view of heat wave adversely affecting the yield of castor, The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) today revised the castor crop estimates downward to 9.76 lakh tonnes for the year 2008-09. Earlier, the association in January this year had estimated the castor crop size of 11 lakh tonnes.
"During February and March 2009, the yield as well as production of castor seed were seriously affected due to heat wave in major growing states Gujarat and Rajasthan", the apex trade body said in a statement today.
Taking the increased temperature, SEA instructed Neilsen to cross check the changes in yield of castor and the test survey undertaken in April 2009 showed that castor yield in the last two picks was considerably reduced as the pod formation during maturity stage was affected due to heat wave.
"In view of this, the overall crop has been reduced to 9.76 lakh tonnes from the previous estimate of 11.0 lakh tonnes for the year 2008-09", the association added.
In its previous survey, the association had pegged castor yield at 1,331 kgs per hectare as against the 1,216 kgs per hectare in 2007-09.
However, it has now reduced the yield 1,180 kgs per hectare, which shows a decline of 11 per cent as compared to yield projections given in February this year.
As per the revised estimates, castor production in Gujarat and Rajasthan is projected lower by 12 per cent and 14 per cent respectively in 2008-09. In case of Gujarat, castor output is estimated to dip from earlier projection of 8,27,000 tonnes to 7,25,000 tonnes, while Rajasthan to witness a production of 1,37,000 tonnes as against the previous estimate of 1,59,000 tonnes.