In 2018-19, Castor Seed Production To Be Down By 20% According To Solvent Extractors Association

As per the castor crop survey which is conducted by the Solvent Extractors Association (SEA), the total production in 2018-19 in India is estimated to be down by 20% to 11.26 lakh tonnes from 14.16 lakh tonnes which were estimated in 2017-18.

The yield and areas have declined mainly because of inadequate monsoons. The survey noted that the total area which is under castor in India for the year 2018-19 is estimated to be 769570 hectares as per estimates of the government against a 2017-18 estimate of 821600 hectares. It has decreased by 7% when compared to the previous year. Acreage has been reported to have rejected in Gujarat, the largest growing state, but it is expected to be almost flat in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh/Telangana. The average yield for the year 2018-19 is estimated slightly down, -12.6%, to 1520 Kg/Ha when compared to 1740 Kg/Ha, on the basis of farmer’s response about their yield expectation on present crop conditions.

SEA conducts Castor crop survey for crop estimation in major growing states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Telangana every year. This year, SEA commissioned Indian Agribusiness Systems Ltd, called as “Agriwatch” in the industry, to conduct a crop estimation study in above-mentioned states through field surveys and remote sense data analysis.

The total area under castor in Gujarat for the year 2018-19 is taken to be 533800 hectares as per the estimated of government against the estimate of last year of 591000 hectares, which has declined by about 10% when compared to the previous year. According to Agriwatch field survey, an area which is under castor to be less by 6% this year as compared to last year’s government estimate and is estimated at 554160 hectares. Using remote sensing methods, the castor acreage for the state is estimated at 549000 hectares, for 2018-19.

The major causes for lower acreage this year is less rainfall in the key growing belt. The estimated average yield for the year 2018-19 is expected to be 1751 Kg/ha. The last year’s estimate is of 2029Kg/ha. This is a fall of 13.7%. Overall, the farmers are expecting a decline in yield this year because of weak monsoon, less growth of plants, and less availability of water for irrigation. The total seed production in the state with a decrease in area (-10%) and less yield (-13.7%), is estimated down to 9.35 lakh tons in 2018-19 from last year’s estimate of 12.00 lakh tons. The arrivals of seed have started in mandis as farmers are selling in small lots for getting the higher prevailing prices.

By: Preeti Narula

Content: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/castor-seed-production-to-be-down-by-20-in-2018-19-solvent-extractors-association/articleshow/68149845.cms