One of the agricultural commodities in which Nigeria has strategic comparative advantage in producing and processing in large quantity is castor seed. As a result of its industrial importance, there have been committed multi-disciplinary efforts aimed at promoting its sustainable development locally.
The castor plant (Ricinuns communis) belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to Africa as it is of Ethiopian origin. Due to its industrial potential, it is now found throughout tropical, sub-tropical and even temperate regions of the world. The plant is drought and pest-resistant and can be grown practically anywhere there is land.
However, the plant is one of the most under-utilised biological resources in most parts of the tropics, including Nigeria.
Also, despite the fact that castor is one of the most versatile plants being used in over 10 industries, not much research has been done on improving its value chain, hence its limited use as industrial raw material in the country as compared to other cash crops.
At present, castor is grown in most states of the federation, albeit on small scale basis. The plant is grown in Abia, FCT, Bauchi, Benue, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, Yobe, Cross River and Zamfara states.
However, productivity is low under the farmers’ condition in Nigeria. While the yield under the best agronomic practices varies from 2.5 to 3 tonnes/ha per annum, productivity in Nigeria is between 0.3 to 0.7 tonnes/annum, limiting its availability for use as industrial raw material and profitability of its production under the farmers’ condition compared to other industrial crops. The current annual production is just about 12,000 tonnes per annum, while national production capacity exceeds 50,000 tonnes per annum.
In view of its versatility as an industrial raw material, castor seed development has become a global affair.
China, Brazil, India and some other south America countries are prepared to import castor seeds as long as it meets the need of its industries. Importation of castor seeds by these countries is occasioned by the high level of development in the textiles, pharmaceuticals, oleochemicals, electronics, cosmetics and perfumes, chemicals, paper, food, plastic and rubber industries in the countries where castor seed oil and its derivatives are highly required.
The Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr. Ibrahim Husaini Dogo noted that the major industrial product from castor seed is the oil. The oil derived from the seed is a pale amber viscous liquid which turn colourless or yellowish after refining and bleaching. The beans contain about 30 – 50% oil, that could be extracted by either cold-pressing or solvent extraction process. Castor oil is unique among all fats and oils in that it is the only source of an 18-carbon hydroxylated fatty acid with one double bond and ricinoleic acid (12-hysroxyoleic acid) which comprises of approximately 90% of the fatty acid composition. Owing to the presence of hydroxyl group and high concentration of ricinoleic acid in castor oil, they are found valuable as a chemical feed stock. The oil have been found useful in some medicinal applications were it is effective in preventing the growth of numerous species of viruses, bacteria and yeast. It is also successful in treatment of ringwo
rm, skin inflammation, fungal infected finger and toenails. On its industrial applications, the presence of hydroxyl functional group enables it to react with isocyanate to produce polyurethane used for elastomers and adhesives. Castor oil has been successfully used in paint industries for the production of coating resin through its modification with other drying oil and also in lubricant production; largely, because of the unique properties that it possess. The oil has product uniformity and consistency which are relatively high for naturally occurring material. In addition, they are non-toxic, biodegradable and renewable resource.
Dr. Dogo said more than N50bn was expended on the importation of castor oil and its derivatives for use in different industries.
In view of the high industrial potentials of the seed across several industries, the RMRDC, in line with its mandate of promoting industrial utilisation of local raw materials and the development and adaptation of existing equipment by the industrial sector, found it imperative to promote production and value chain development of castor seed processing locally.
Presently, the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, and the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) have mandates for castor seed development.
While RMRDC is collaborating with these organisations, it is also exploring international opportunities for castor seed development in Nigeria.
In recognition of the need to develop local castor varieties, RMRDC collaborated with Efugo Farms, owned by Chief Audu Ogbe, to carry out multi-locational trials on indigenous castor varieties in Nigeria.
To further increase castor seed yield in Nigeria, the RMRDC supported the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria, to import improved castor seeds from Israel. The seeds were distributed to castor farmers in Adamawa State for the 2016 planting season.
More recently, farmers were able to supply 16 tonnes of castor seeds for processing at the Efugo Farms Castor Plant in Kuje, Abuja, Nigeria.
The council, in line with its mandate, has drawn up a more pragmatic programme that will make the collaboration with Efugo Farms, FMITI and the Castor Producers, Processors and Marketers Association (CPPMA) more effective in 2018.
On the international scene, the council has been collaborating with Kong Associates Shaghai (China) Limited to promote the development of varieties that can be grown in the tropics for optimal production of seed and oil.
Also, the council, in 1995, imported 40 tonnes per day of castor oil plant that was installed in Kaduna. The plant is the pioneer castor oil processing plant in Nigeria. It has been able to attract investment in castor oil production in Nigeria.
Today, there are two other castor processing plants operating locally. The council is further studying the value chain of castor seed to promote its optimal development.
To ease the drudgery associated with castor shelling, the council imported two castor shellers in 2017. One was given to the members of CPPMA, while a consortium of local engineers is currently working on the design and fabrication of the other machine locally.
According to the result obtained from the study by experts, castor value chain in Nigeria is comprised of six principal players: input suppliers who supply the farmers with planting materials and technology, the farmers who perform all the production and harvesting, the processors who buy the seeds to extract the oil, the marketers and exporters who buy and sell the castor seed, oil and cake and the end users.
Although production and processing are still low, with promotional activities by RMRDC and other government agencies geared towards creating awareness, providing planting materials and modern processing technology, there are signs of growth in the sector.
By Hussein Yahaya
Daily Trust News
