Gandhinagar: Gujarat has further strengthened its identity as a “Global Castor Oil Production Hub.” The state ranks first not only in the country but also in the world in terms of castor oil acreage, production, and productivity, according to a government statement.

With a total castor oil acreage of 6.46 lakh hectares for the year 2024-25, Gujarat has maintained its position as the leader in the country for four consecutive decades. Contributing 81.42 percent to India’s total castor oil production, Gujarat is the largest castor oil-producing state in the country.

Gujarat Leads in Castor Production and Productivity

In 2003, the total area under castor cultivation in the state was only 2.90 lakh hectares, which has since doubled to 6.46 lakh hectares in 2024-25. Not only has the area under cultivation increased, but Gujarat has also continuously improved its castor production and productivity. In 2003, the state’s castor production was 5.41 lakh metric tons, which has increased nearly threefold to 15.95 lakh metric tons in 2024. Similarly, castor productivity was 1,864 kilograms per hectare in 2003, which has increased to 2,200 kilograms per hectare in 2024.

Agriculture Minister Shri Raghavji Patel said, “The main reason for Gujarat’s dominance in castor oil cultivation, production, and productivity for decades is the progressive farmers of Gujarat and the farmer-oriented policies of the state government. To increase castor oil production and income, most of the castor farmers in the state are planting improved and hybrid varieties of high-quality castor oil. The Kadi area in Mehsana district of Gujarat holds the record for the highest castor oil productivity in the world. Apart from this, castor oil is cultivated in large quantities in Sabarkantha, Banaskantha, Surendranagar, Kutch, Ahmedabad, Kheda, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar, and Gandhinagar districts.”

The oil content of Indian castor is 48 percent. Of this 48 percent, about 42 percent of the oil is extracted, while the remaining 6 percent stays in the shell. This oil is rich in triglycerides called ricinolein, which is why the use of castor oil as a raw material is increasing across various industries such as paints, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, paper, rubber, and food additives. Additionally, the use of castor oil has increased as a lubricant in high-speed engines and aircraft, in biodiesel, veterinary medicine, and in medicinal applications.

The castor oil cake left after extracting oil from the castor beans is used as an organic fertilizer in agriculture. In countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, food grains such as wheat, rice, and pulses are preserved by applying castor oil to prevent them from rotting.

It is worth mentioning that India is producing about 90 percent of the global demand for castor oil today. Gujarat has become the main producing state with a contribution of 81 percent to India’s total castor oil production. In 1960, global castor oil production was 5.8 lakh metric tons, with India contributing 1.09 lakh metric tons. By 2020, global castor oil production reached 20.5 lakh metric tons, of which India contributed 18.42 lakh metric tons. DeshGujarat