Castor traders do not expect any significant rise in production this year in the wake of a marginal increase in the acreage across the country.
Kharif sowing data available with the Union ministry of agriculture shows a meagre increase of 0.07 per cent in the area covered under castorseed crop this Kharif season. This has triggered speculations that the output may hover just above what was registered last year.
The total castor acreage stood at 681,000 hectares as on September 9, 2008. The area covered under castor crop in 2007-08 was at 674,000 hectares, which shows marginal growth of 0.07. Interestingly, castorseed acreage in Andhra Pradesh, one of the largest castor growing regions in the country, has declined to 166,000 hectares in 2008-09 from 215,000 hectares in 2007-08.
Considering the marginal increase, the castor production is likely to witness no significant increase this year, said B V Mehta, executive director, Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA).
Last year, castor output was 910,000 tonnes, which was 16 per cent higher as compared to previous year. With no noticeable increase in acreage this year, there may not be any substantial growth in output, which is likely to be just above 910,000 tonnes registered last year, traders said.
“However, area under castor crop in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh has increased this year. Timely rain are likely to boost castor yield in these two states,” Mehta added.
Total castorseed acreage in Gujarat has surged to 360,000 hectares as compared to 337,000 hectares last year. In case of Rajasthan, the acreage has moved up from 65,000 hectares in 2007-08 to 107,000 hectares this financial year.