The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) is seeking to promote castor as an organic fertiliser in India. Gujarat will probably be the first state to use castor as an organic fertiliser as the state government is in favour of promoting it as organic fertiliser.

Meanwhile, a few agro companies are also trying to pitch castor as an organic fertiliser and they have sought the Centre’s help for the purpose. It may be mentioned here that sometime ago the apex trade body had urged the Centre to add castor to the list of organic fertiliser.

“Castor is a good organic fertiliser for crops like fruits and vegetables. The ongoing recession has led to a fall in export demand for castor and its derivatives. We are looking for areas where we can promote the use of castor. For that we are trying to create awareness on the use of castor as an organic fertiliser,” said B V Mehta, executive director of SEA.

Castor is mainly used in oil paint and chemical industry. Moreover, it is also used for mixing in edible oil illegally. Now it is also being considered as an organic fertiliser.

“Countries in East Asia, West Asia, France and Germany already use castor-based organic fertiliser. However, Indian farmers could not use such fertiliser as the price was too high. But, the scene has changed. If foreign farmers are reaping the benefits of it, why can we not take advantage of it. We are pushing for castor-based organic fertiliser in India,” said Mulraj Udeshi, who heads the Agricultural Research Division of the Jayant Agro-Organics.

Jayant Agro-Organics produces 150,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser from castor. Jayant is among a few research-oriented companies in

India which carry out extensive research on castor oil, castor oil derivatives and its applications. Presently, organic fertiliser is traded for Rs 3,500-3,700 per tonne in India, while the prices of the same is Rs 4,700 per tonne, which was Rs 6,800 a few months ago.

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