Castor Cultivation Transforms Barren Land into Profit Hub for Shivpuri Farmers

• Farmers in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, are adopting castor cultivation on barren and rocky land, moving away from traditional farming.
• Castor requires no fertilizer or regular irrigation, yielding income for 2-3 years with two harvests annually.
• The crop thrives in water-scarce and infertile areas, significantly reducing cultivation costs and ensuring stable profits.
• Castor fruit, known for medicinal properties, sells for 40-50 rupees per kilogram to local buyers and pharmaceutical companies.
• This low-input, high-return crop is attracting young farmers, utilizing unused land and field boundaries for additional income.

Why It Matters: Castor cultivation offers Shivpuri farmers a sustainable, low-cost, and profitable alternative on challenging land.