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.
Interested farmers will be offered a free ploughing machine and free certified seeds, with a ready market at the company's plant at Wote in Makueni.
The Italian firm, Mwadime said, has set up a production plant to produce oil and seed cake at the Agricultural Training College in Kwa Kathoka, Makueni county.
While visiting Tosheka Textiles in Makueni, Mwadime said more than 7,000 acres have already been ploughed and planting started.
He advised farmers in the lowlands to adapt to climate change-related shocks by embracing farming of castor oil among other drought-resistant crops.
“Castor oil farming is one of the most effective ways to adapt to climate change-related shocks because the plants can be grown in arid and semi-arid areas and on degraded soils," the county boss said.
The governor further said large-scale production of caster oil will help promote the de-carbonisation process and combat effects of climate change in the region.
"The crop has proven to be a hidden gem whose potential is yet to be fully exploited, especially in Africa," Mwadime said.
"Globally, there is high demand for eco-friendly sources of energy as countries commit to renewable energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions."
Lucy Lau Bigham, the Tosheka Textiles executive director, said castor seeds, croton and croton nuts should be embraced as an alternative, sustainable and eco-friendly source of energy.
Bigham said the growing of the crop can be turned into a great agricultural venture to help build resilience amid the rising effects of climate change.
“The oil extracted is non-edible biodiesel used in the production of hydrotreated vegetable oil (biodiesel) and sustainable aviation fuel (biojet)," Bigham said, pointing out that the protein component in the seeds and nuts can also be used to produce animal feeds and bio-fertilisers.
She said the project has been a source of income for hundreds of farmers in the arid and semi-arid region.
