As part of the program “Maximizing Value-Added from Economic Crops in Sinai” a team from the Economic and Social Studies Division at Desert Research Center (DRC) conducted an inspection tour. The visit aimed to monitor the harvest and evaluate the productivity of castor bean crops in demonstration fields in Al-Qantara, Sinai.
This program aligns with the state’s plan to castor bean cultivation in regions historically known for the crop and to leverage the expertise of local farmers. This is in addition to leveraging the results of recent research and demonstration plots to identify varieties and agricultural practices suited to the region’s environmental conditions—thereby supporting the calculated expansion of its cultivation, boosting local castor oil production, and reducing reliance on imports.
Castor beans are a non-food crop suitable for cultivation on marginal lands using non-conventional water sources. This approach maximizes the economic value of available resources without competing with food crops for fertile land or fresh irrigation water.
