Pragati, the world’s first sustainable castor bean programme, was launched in May 2016 in Gujarat, India. The programme was developed by a consortium, comprising Arkema, BASF, Jayant Agro-Organics, with Solidaridad as the implementing partner. The initiative was designed to ensure sustainable and responsible castor production that would benefit consumers, producers and the environment.
Year 8 achievements
After the completion of eight years of operations, more than 8,000 farmers are now certified under the Pragati programme, and individual farmer yields have increased significantly. The programme has grown to cover more than 9,000 hectares of mostly semi-arid land under the SuCCESS ® supply chain sustainability code.
In Gujarat, 9,000 hectares were farmed according to the SuCCESS code in 2023/2024, for a total of more than 36,000 hectares since the start of the programme. Pragati farmers are increasing the amount of land devoted to castor farming as it is seen as a profitable crop.
Additionally, the practices adopted in the Pragati programme have resulted in a lower water consumption compared with conventional practices. Data measured in the demonstration plots for these practices showed about 33 percent less water consumption.
The programme members have updated the results and impacts of the programme for 2024:
- More than 10,000 farmers have been trained, and more than 8,000 of them certified.
- About 100,000 metric tonnes of certified castor seeds have been under cultivation, a significant increase over the previous year’s 74,500 metric tonnes. This growth will ensure a continuous supply of sustainable castor beans to the global supply chain.
- In the crop cycle of 2023/2024, SuCCESS-certified farmers realized 57 percent higher yields in the region than those published by the local government.
- Over 8,200 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and 5,500 crop protection storage boxes were distributed free of charge.
- In 2024, more than 100 medical camps which were organized in all project villages were able to monitor the health of over 6,000 project and 2,300 non-project farmers, workers and their family members. Nearly 50 percent of those monitored were women.
- During the year, more than 420 capacity-building training sessions were conducted with the farmers.
- Over 700 lead farmers were identified and trained to provide leadership to certified farmer groups.
“As a widow, I carry the burden of my family on my shoulders alone. Thanks to the Pragati programme, I have been able to improve my farming practices and better support my family.”
Patel Sitaben Rameshbhai, a castor farmer from Kahoda village in Gujarat’s Mehsana district.
Women build a future with Pragati
In accordance with the strategy for the programme’s current phase, the project placed a particular emphasis on women. In this reporting year, more than 1,100 women from 17 project villages enrolled in the programme and received in-depth training on good agricultural practices.
“The good agricultural practices I have learned have helped me reduce the cost of cultivation by 20 to 25 percent. I have also started using certified seeds, which help me grow healthier crops and produce more,” says Patel Sitaben Rameshbhai, a castor farmer from Gujarat’s Kahoda village, who now helps fellow farmers practise safe and sustainable castor farming.
“With the savings I made, I was able to buy a new machine for my son’s motor repair shop. It feels like I have made real ‘pragati’—progress for me, my family and my community.”
About the project
Launched following the completion of a baseline survey of over 1,000 castor oil farmers in Gujarat, India, the Pragati initiative identified the profitability and ease of cultivation of castor oil as key factors.
Since then, the project has aimed to increase yields and farmer incomes by adopting sustainable agricultural practices, promoting good waste management practices, ensuring efficient water use, maintaining soil fertility, and implementing better health and safety measures while respecting human rights.
With the programme inching closer to the 10-year milestone, achievements made over these past years will continue to drive progress in sustainable castor oil production.