Castor oil value chain gets boost with state and private sector collaboration

Hussein Abdullahi-KNA

The National Government has committed to boost castor oil value chain development in the country.

Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary (CS) Salim Mvurya said the government will support the private sector to contribute to castor oil development in Kenya.

Mvurya disclosed this when he held talks with Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani and Enrico Tavolini, the Managing Director of Eni Kenya B.V, regarding Eni’s plans to expand the biofuel supply chain production in Bonje, Kwale County.

The Italian oil company Eni Kenya BV seeks to establish a robust agribusiness model that will focus on the cultivation and aggregation of castor oil, empowering local farmers through sustainable husbandry practices and exporting the refined product to European markets.

CS Mvurya said the new initiative mirrors the successful biofuel programme implemented in Makueni County, where Eni has created over 160,000 direct and indirect jobs and significantly empowered castor farmers through backward linkages.

The project has allowed farmers to aggregate produce for export, while benefiting from an end-to-end value chain that enhances productivity and economic growth.

Castor is considered one of the most remunerative crops in the world, with naturally high seed oil content produced from castor beans.

Mvurya said globally, castor oil plantations are increasingly being touted as climate-friendly energy alternatives to fossil fuels.

“Castor oil, a key raw material in the production of biofuels, holds immense potential, especially in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands,” said Mvurya. 

Mvurya said by introducing this agribusiness model, Eni aims to help farmers in Kwale prepare their land, provide them with high-quality seeds, and support the entire farming process from planting to harvest.

He disclosed that Eni will purchase the harvested castor oil and export it to Italy for refinement, tapping into global markets where the demand for biofuels continues to rise.

The Minister stated that the expansion of castor oil farming for biofuel production offers a sustainable solution to global energy challenges, while directly benefiting small-scale farmers in Kenya.

“By establishing this value chain in Kwale, local farmers will gain access to international markets, boosting income and enhancing livelihoods,” he said, adding that the demand for castor oil is increasing in the international market.

Mvurya said the proposed castor oil extraction and processing factory in Bonje will serve as a crucial hub for processing castor oil, cementing Kwale County as a key player in the biofuel sector and contributing to the global shift toward cleaner, renewable energy sources.

Governor Achani said the meeting focused on Eni's plans to expand the biofuel supply chain in Bonje, Kwale with the goal to establish an agribusiness model that will cultivate and aggregate castor oil.

Achani welcomed the move by the Italian oil firm, saying their investment will help efforts to attain food security and self-sufficiency as well as improve the livelihood of castor farmers.

“The proposed factory in Bonje will be a vital center for castor oil processing, establishing Kwale County as an important contributor to the biofuel industry and supporting the global transition towards cleaner, renewable energy sources,” she said.

Achani said the drought and pest-resistant castor crops find favorable conditions for cultivation in the coastal county of Kwale fostering resilience to climate change and supporting economic empowerment.

She said Eni will purchase the harvested castor oil and export it to Italy for refinement, targeting global markets where the demand for biofuels is rising.

The Governor said castor farmers in Kwale are often distraught as climate change threatens to disrupt the productivity of this important industrial oilseed.

Achani noted that castor oil can be used to produce biodiesel, which is a biodegradable, reusable, and rechargeable alternative to fossil fuels.

She said the devolved government is hopeful that its partnership with the Italian oil company, which has been at the forefront of green solutions in Kenya, will improve the sustainability of the castor oil sub-sector.