The Sustainable Castor Initiative is an industry programme that works with castor farmers in Gujarat, run on the ground under the name Pragati. It trains farmers in better practices and certifies them against a sustainability code, so buyers can source castor oil and derivatives from certified farms.
It was set up in the mid-2010s by a group of castor oil processors and industrial buyers, working with a development organisation. Details such as members, scope and audit rules change over time, so check the current position with the initiative itself.
Why it was set up
Most castor seed comes from smallholders in north Gujarat, as explained in why India is the world's main supplier of castor oil. Industrial buyers wanted assurance about how the crop is grown: water use, pesticide handling, worker safety and labour conditions. Farmers wanted better yields and incomes. A shared programme was a way to address both.
What the programme covers
- Good agricultural practice: seed choice, spacing, irrigation, soil health and integrated pest management.
- Safe use of pesticides and protective equipment, and safe disposal of containers.
- Water use and soil conservation in a dry region.
- Social standards: no child labour, fair treatment of workers, and health and safety at harvest.
- Record keeping, so farm practice can be audited and traced.
- Auditing of farmers against the code, with certification for those who comply.
What it means for buyers
If your customers ask about responsible sourcing, certified castor from this programme gives you a documented story from farm to plant. Some crushers and derivative makers offer castor oil or derivatives made from certified seed, often at a premium over standard material.
Ask the supplier how certified seed is handled in the plant. Is it kept separate from other seed, or is it a mass balance claim, where certified volume is bought and accounted for but mixed in processing? Both models exist in sustainability schemes, and each supports a different claim on your label or report.
- Ask for the supplier's certificate or membership evidence and its scope.
- Ask what volume of certified material they can supply each season.
- Ask how the certified volume is tracked from farm to your shipment.
- Check which claims you are allowed to make in your own marketing.
What it does not cover
Farm certification does not guarantee oil quality. Acid value, colour, moisture and other specs still need testing on each lot. Certification also does not replace your own plant audit, which covers crushing, refining and loading. Our guide to what certifications a castor oil plant should have sets out the plant-level checks.
How we help
We identify crushers in Gujarat that can supply oil from certified castor seed, check their certificates and ask how certified volume is tracked. We then test the oil at an NABL-accredited lab and supervise loading like any other order. Ask for a free sourcing review.