Photo courtesy: The Star.
Hundreds of farmers in lowland areas of Taita Taveta county are set to be included in a pilot project to grow castor oil starting this season.
The devolved unit is collaborating with Eni Kenya, an Italian multinational oil and gas company, to promote the crop.
The company is leading a castor oil growing pilot project in Makueni county and is set to expand its catchment to Taita Taveta.
Castor seeds are used to produce biofuels in a bid to meet the increasing demand for biodiesel.
The crop takes around four to six months to mature and can yield up to 10kg per tree, with an estimation of up to four tonnes of castor seeds per acre.
Governor Andrew Mwadime on Wednesday inked a deal with the Italian firm that will see scores of farmers assisted to produce the crop.