Agribusiness potential of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.) in Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To describe the agribusiness potential of the castor oil plant in Mexico through the collection and analysis of agricultural, industrial and commercial information that allows decision making for the formulation of future productive projects to generate economic, social and technological impacts.Design/Methodology/Approach: The study is descriptive with a transactional design. The information was collected on national and international agrifood statistical and  documentary information platforms.Results: Different attempts have been made in Mexico in commercial and research  projects related to the cultivation, production and transformation of castor oil, with results that are not very encouraging due to the lack of knowledge about productive, technological and commercial processes. However, on the other hand, the need for the industrial sector to import oil to produce high-value products is evident. Study Limitations/Implications: Isolated efforts have been made by each of the actors in the castor oil agribusiness, which has prevented the sector’s consolidation.Findings/Conclusions: An intelligent management of agricultural production must be implemented through the establishment of commercial crops with the adoption of basic technological packages applied to each region in particular, with great attention to the availability of planting seed, which should have agronomic potential, use of nutrition and management of pests and diseases, as well as to foresee all the cultural tasks ofmaintenance of the crop and harvesting modality that guarantee yield in the field and quality raw material. Currently, there is a deficit in the castor oil market in the country, which leads to high business prospects and business opportunities.