Page 142 - CW E-Magazine (18-2-2025)

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CASTOR CULTIVATION

Sustainable castor programme completes 8 years;

over 8,000 farmers certifi ed

‘Pragati’, the world’s fi rst sustain- The practices adopted in the ‘Pra-
able castor bean programme, has com- gati’ programme have resulted in a
pleted eight years of operation in the lower water consumption compared
2023/2024 season. The programme, with conventional practices. In accor-
founded in May 2016 by Germany’s dance with the strategy for the current
BASF, French chemicals fi rm Arkema, phase (2023-2026), the project placed a
Mumbai-based oleochemicals fi rm, particular emphasis on gender. In 2024,
Jayant Agro-Organics, along with more than 1,100 women from 17 pro-
implementation partner, Solidaridad, ject villages enrolled in the programme
recently published the latest results and received training on good agricul-
from the project. tural practices.

The programme has had an impres- The project was driven by a survey
sive impact with more than 10,000 of more than 1,000 castor farmers in
farmers being trained, and more than Gujarat, where the majority of the world’s
8,000 of them certifi ed. The programme certifi ed farmers realised 57% higher castor supply originates. The initiative
has grown to more than 9,000 hectares yields than that published by the local identifi ed profi tability and ease of culti-
(more than 36,000 hectares cumula- government for the region. vation of castor oil as key factors. Since
tively) of mostly semi-arid land under then, the project has aimed to increase
the ‘SuCCESS’ sustainability code; and About 100,000-tonnes of certifi ed yields and farmer incomes by adopting
farmers are increasing their land dedi- castor seeds have been under cultiva- sustainable agricultural practices, pro-
cated to castor farming as it is seen as a tion, a signifi cant increase over the moting good waste management prac-
profi table crop. previous year (74,500-tonnes). This tices, ensuring effi cient water use, main-
growth ensures a continuous supply of taining soil fertility, and implementing
According to a BASF press release, sustainable castor beans to the global better health and safety measures while
in the crop cycle 2023/2024, SuCCESS- supply chain. respecting human rights.

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
Praj Industries appoints Ashish Gaikwad as MD-designate

Pune-based bioengineering firm, Engineering (Honors) in Electrical &
Praj Industries, has announced the Electronics from BITS Pilani. Before
appointment of Mr. Ashish Gaikwad as joining Praj Industries, he led Honey-
Managing Director-Designate, effec- well Automation India Ltd. as Manag-
tive from February 3, 2025. He will ing Director for over seven years.
succeed Mr. Shishir Joshipura, CEO &
MD, who will complete his tenure on Commenting on the appointment,
June 30. Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman
of Praj Industries, said, “Mr. Gaikwad’s
Mr. Gaikwad has over three deep industry expertise and global leader-
decades of experience in industrial ship experience will be instrumental
automation, digitalisation, process tech- in driving our innovation-led growth
nology, renewable energy transition, strategy. Under his guidance, Praj will
artifi cial intelligence, and autonomous continue to advance its vision of a
manufacturing. He holds a Bachelors in Mr. Ashish Gaikwad sustainable bioeconomy.”

142 Chemical Weekly February 18, 2025

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