Project details
- Castor Seed-Oil Farming
- 24th May 2025
- Okalebo Moses
- Farming
Okalebo Moses
Castor Seed Oil
CASTOR SEED-OIL FARMING IN TESO SUB-REGION
Teso Sub-Region, historically a farming community, has long depended on traditional crops like cassava, millet, and groundnuts. However, limited market access, climate challenges, and low-value crop cycles have contributed to persistent poverty and underutilization of land.
The global demand for castor oil, a versatile product used in cosmetics, lubricant, and biodiesel industries, polyurethane, machinery oils, presents a new economic opportunity. Castor (Ricinus communis) is a drought-tolerant crop suitable for the semi-arid conditions of Teso. Its cultivation and processing have the potential to improve household incomes, support agro-industrialization, and create employment.
This project aims to establish commercial castor seed farming and a processing unit for oil extraction in Teso, starting with a 5-acre demonstration garden, and expanding through an out-grower model to engage 50+ farmers and eventually build a 50- 200 acre estate integrated with a processing facility.
Project Overview
The organization has an active membership of over 100 women who are directly involved in the agricultural production of traditional crops like groundnuts and processing them into local oils.
Unfortunately, these seed oils have not had markets due to the overwhelming supply of the same in the limited market. Over the past two years, the organization has been building the capacity of these women to enhance their productivit,y and it has effectively demonstrated its
capacity to utilize and manage the available resources in enhancing women’s economic empowerment.
Project Objectives:
