Good rains brighten castor seeds prospects

AHMEDABAD: Widespread rains in the state, especially in the castor seed belt of north Gujarat, have raised hopes of higher sowing of castor seed. Though the delay in the arrival of monsoon has affected the sowing of other kharif crops like bajra, jowar and pulses, the timing of the rains has been just right for the sowing of castor seeds. It is expected that sowing of the commodity will be higher by at least 25% over last season in Gujarat. According to government figures, close to 65% sowing of castor seeds has been completed.

Timely rains apart, the farmers are likely to give priority to the cultivation of castorseeds also because of the prevailing high prices of the commodity. A delayed monsoon typically sees farmers going for cultivation of castorseed and tobacco.

���The rains have been late for many kharif crops but timely for castor which is sown during August,��� says state agricultural director SR Chaudhary. ���There has been a decline in the cultivation of coarse grains like bajra, jowar and pulses during the current season.

Under the circumstances, the cultivation of castorseed is likely to increase,��� he says.
According to him, this season, castor is expected to be cultivated on more than 3 lakh hectares as against last���s year���s 2.24 lakh hectares. Commodity prices have crashed owing to global correction and good monsoon in most of the country where castorseeds are cultivated.

At Ahmedabad Commodity Exchange (ACE), the future prices closed at Rs 3,137 on Monday. The October delivery future prices came down by Rs 57.50 to Rs 3079.50 per 100 kg on Tuesday. The prices rose by Rs 4 to Rs 3083.50 on Wednesday. The October future had risen to an all-time high of Rs 3,358.

In spot market, prices closed at Rs 617 (20 kg) Says president of ACE Pravin Thakkar: ���It is certain that castor seed sowing will be more this year. But, the farmers are facing shortage of quality seeds this year. Last year, the castor seeds were no sown in lesser area as cotton was the flavour of the season then.

Production can touch 10 lakh tonnes if rains continue. Last season, production of castor seeds was 8.5-9 lakh tonnes as per the trade estimates. However, Prakash Mehta, a castor seed broker is not sure if the sowing will go up. ���It will take a fortnight for a clear picture to emerge. Land is already under cotton and the present spell of heavy showers will ensure a good progress. Hence, it is unlikely that farmers would replace the crop with castor seed.���