Castor oil is a vegetable oil that is used for a wide range of cosmetic and medical purposes.
It is said to provide health benefits for the face and skin.
Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is cultivated around the world because of the commercial importance of its oil.
India is said to be the world's largest producer of castor seed and meets most of the global demand for castor oil.
The castor seed is a seed of high commercial potential in the areas of pharmaceutical and industrial use,
such as in the production fungi static compound (fungus growth inhibitor), synthetic resins for paint industry, plastics,
fibers, vanishes, plasticizers, fatliquor, dyeing, textile finishing materials, cosmetics. etc.
Nigeria imports over N30 billion worth of castor oil every year. NARICT is filling a gap, by producing a machine that
will be used in processing the castor seed produced in the country.
The machine is a milling-shaft type incorporating winnowing unit. It is self-feeding and operates by centrifugal
impact and friction. It has the capacity of shelling 2.16 tons of castor seed (Ricinus Communis) within 8 hours of work.
It has been developed to produce exportable products by incorporating a separation unit. This is yet another NARICT's
product that support the Federal Government's import substitution policy. Its massive cultivation and processing will
provide a much sought-atter raw materials for numerous industries that are import dependent on castor oil and its
downstream products.
The Institute as part of its strategic effort in improving local production of balls to conserve foreign exchange, commissioned research into the production of basketball. The result is resounding, as we are now able to produce quality basketballs. We are partnering with relevant stakeholders to consolidate on the gains of the technology.