Castor to hit markets early

Castor seed crop from Gujarat might arrive early this season as sowing on 31 per cent of the castor acreage has already been completed in various regions of the state. This may result in the early arrival of the crop, provided the state receives another good spell of rains during August.

Normally, the major sowing of castor starts from July-end to the beginning of August. However, the recent good spell of rains across the state has encouraged the farmers to start sowing early this season.

The season's sowing progress figures, provided by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Gujarat, indicate that by July 16 sowing has been completed in various regions, including north Gujarat, Kutch and Saurashtra, in about 31 per cent of the castor acreage.

A total of 99,400 hectares have come under castor seeds till July 16. Last year, during the same period, the total area under castor seeds was about 85,400 hectares. The average area under castor cultivation in the last three years stands at 3,20,100 hectares.

Sowing in Kutch has progressed quite well, with 67,300 hectares already sown with castor. In Rajkot district it stands at 9,800 hectares, and in Banaskantha district, the figure is 8,400 hectares.

Around 8,200 hectares have been sown with castor seeds in Surendranagar district of Saurashtra till now.

According to the department, sowing of castor seeds in other districts like Junagadh (2,700 hectares), Patan (1,000 hectares) Amreli (7 hectares), Bharuch (2 hectares), Kheda (2 hectares) and Porbandar (2 hectares) is well ahead compared with the corresponding period in 2006.

Talking to Business Standard, an Ahmedabad-based castor seed trader said, "Early sowing may result in the early arrival of castor crop from Gujarat. However, it is highly dependent on the next spell of rains as the crop needs two good spells of rain. If the state receives rains in August, then we can expect an early castor crop from Gujarat. The picture of total acreage will be clear by August 15."

However, the early sowing season does not promise any increase in the total area under castor seeds as farmers might turn to other oil seeds like soybean and groundnut for cultivation.

Rajendra Pobaru, a major castor seed trader in the state and president of the Rajkot Oil Seeds and Bullion Merchants' Association, said, "The early start of sowing does not promise that the castor seed area in the state will increase. Farmers may turn towards other oilseeds like Soybean and groundnut as groundnut sowing is also progressing well this year. The prices of other commodities like cotton and groundnut are also likely to be good. So there are enough temptations for farmers to go for these crops."

Gujarat is a major castor seed growing region. Other major castor seed producing states in the country include Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

According to a survey carried out by AC Nielson ORG-MARG, on behalf of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India, last year (2005-06) Gujarat's area under castor cultivation was 3,33,000 hectares and the production of castor seeds stood at 5.71 lakh tonnes.