Castor oil and the plant’s roots and leaves are used in the ancient Indian medicinal system of Ayurveda. Global castor seed production is around two million tons per year. Leading producing areas are India (with over three-quarters of the global yield), China and Mozambique, and it is widely grown as a crop in Ethiopia.
What is castor oil?
Castor oil is a vegetable oil that comes from the castor bean plant, a flowering plant that is common in eastern parts of the world. The oil is made by cold-pressing seeds of the castor bean plant. Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid¡ªa type of fatty acid with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain-relieving properties.
Is castor oil a potential oil crop for agribusiness in Africa?
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis L.): A Potential Oil Crop for Agribusiness in Africa Agriculture is an important sector of African economy that presents tremendous opportunities for the emergence of small and medium scale enterprises.
Can Africa join the Castor market?
The oil is critical to many industrial applications, compared with other vegetable oil, because of its unique ability to withstand high and low temperatures. The potential of Africa joining castor market is very bright. The most important task is to sensitize Africans on the unique opportunities this crop presents.