Delayed monsoon and insufficient rainfall encourage the farmers to shift to castor seed from other crops. Sowing of castor is likely to increase during mid- August. Many of the groundnut farmers have preferred castor seed due to the fear of crop failure owing to insufficient rainfall and delayed onset of monsoon. Therefore the castor sowing area is expected to increase by 10- 15%, than the nominal figure. At present, the castor seed price range between Rs.805- 835 per 20kg, while the year before, it was ruling between Rs. 650- 750 per 20kg. According the Solvent Extract Association data, India’s export of castor oil during April to June 2014 has decreased by 6,529 tonnes, on comparison with the export during the same time in 2013.

Source:

http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/castor-sowing-likely-to-rise-by-15-in-india-114080300688_1.html