20000104

Agri-expert's view Cultivation of castor oilseed will help cut import bill

AMER SIAL

Islamabad: The Government can substantially reduce its import bill if it launches programme to increase cultivation of castor oilseed in the country.

An agricultural expert told Business Recorder here on Monday that castor is an important industrial crop in the world. The viscosity of castor oil does not change much with temperature and is therefore, considered to be one of the best lubricants for high speed aero-engines.

The expert said that it is a potential export crop and has a vast existing market. It is being grown all over Pakistan and highest cultivated crop was recorded at 45,900 hectares during 1978-79. It started declining due to absence of castor based industry and according to latest statistics it is grown over 4,000 hectare in Baluchistan 2,450 hectares in Sindh and 56 hectares in Punjab.

Castor could be grown all over Pakistan especially in Baluchistan and barani areas as it is fairly drought resistant. India is producing 50 percent of the world total production of castor and is the number one exporter.

He said that the establishment of castor-based industry in the country could help increase its demand. The involvement of private sector for promotion of castor oilseed could be attained by the same pattern as adopted for tobacco and sugar industry.

However he pointed out that public sector support is essential for the establishment of a strong research base for solving production problems. He said that only one person is attached for castor oilseed research in the Ayub Agriculture Research Institute at Faisalabad.

The expert said that a tonne of castor oil is worth dollar 1000 in the international market. The price of a tonne of palm oil is dollar 500. The crops having industrial oil are the potential import substitution commodities, therefore these should be firmly taken up in the future strategy.