Efforts to Develop Short-Duration Castor Varieties

01-Jul-2026 03:51 PM

Rajkot: A leading private-sector oleochemical company is currently collaborating with research centers to develop castor varieties that mature in a shorter timeframe.

Typically, the castor varieties cultivated in Gujarat take a long time to mature; sowing takes place in July-August, and the crop is ready for harvest in January-February.

Apart from Gujarat, commercial castor cultivation also takes place in states such as Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The company's chairman stated that extensive consultations have been held with the Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research—an institution under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)—and that they are collaborating with Dantiwada University to develop early-maturing castor varieties.

If such short-duration varieties are successfully developed, farmers will have the opportunity to cultivate a second crop after the castor harvest.