Although grown and found in abundance, people of Khangma Chiwog under Yurung Gewog in Pema Gatshel have never used castor beans to produce castor oil. Castor bean is a fast-growing tender perennial large shrub or small tree that is used to produce oil in other countries. However, the people of Khangma Chiwog say there is an opportunity of producing castor oil if they provided support. They say it can reduce oil imports and enhance food self-sufficiency in the country.
Today, people cultivate castor beans not to produce oil but to provide shade for cardamom plants. Farmers said they have the raw materials to produce oil but they don’t have an extraction plant and a market. They said it can greatly reduce the import of hydrogenated vegetable oil which is locally known as dalda. Today, dalda is widely used for lighting butter lamps in monasteries, temples and homes.
“If such opportunities are given, we have plans to cultivate in huge quantities. We can even make a good income besides cardamom,” said kencho Wangdi, a farmer in Khangma Chiwog.
“We would be thankful if we are given the opportunity to extract oil. Today, the castor bean trees or plants go to waste although it grows abundantly,” added Ugyen Lhamo, added another farmer.
“If there is one oil extraction plant, we can sell and make a good income out of it. It gives fruits twice a year, one in winter and the other in summer,” added Tashi Wangdi, another farmer.
Meanwhile, the Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector has no plans to set up an oil extraction plant for now. But they said they will explore the possibility in the future. A private firm to help farmers market the locally produced castor oil was underway in Zhemgang. But the ongoing pandemic disrupted its completion.
Today, more than a hundred household cultivate castor beans in the dzongkhag.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
