Jatropha in India

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Jatropha has been selected by the Indian Government as one of the plants to provide alternative fuel for the coming years. The government has identified 400,000 square kilometres (98 million acres) of land where jatropha can be grown, hoping it will replace 20% of diesel consumption by 2011.[1] This has provided much needed employment to the rural poor of India and also a means to energy Independence to India.

The Indian Railways[2] has started to use the oil (blended with diesel fuel in various ratios) from the Jatropha plant to power its diesel engines with great success. Currently the diesel locomotives that run from Thanjavur to Nagore section and Tiruchirapalli to Lalgudi, Dindigul and Karur sections run on a blend of Jatropha and diesel oil.

The President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam is a strong advocate of jatropha cultivation for production of bio-diesel.[3] In his recent speech, the President said that out of the 60 million hectares (600,000 km²) of waste land that is available in India over 30 million hectares (300,000 km²) are suitable for Jatropha cultivation. Once this plant is grown the plant has a useful lifespan of several decades. During it life Jatropha requires very little water when compared to other cash crops.

Recently the State Bank of India provided a boost to the cultivation of Jatropha in India by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with D1 Mohan to give loans to the tune of 1.3 billion rupees to local farmers in India. Farmers will also be able to pay back the loan with the money that D1 Mohan pays for the Jatropha seeds.

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[edit] Jatropha in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh has decided to plant 160 million saplings of jatropha in all its 16 districts during 2006 with the aim of becoming a bio-fuel self-reliant state by 2015.[4] Chhattisgarh plans to earn Rs.40 billion annually by selling seeds after 2010. The central government has provided Rs.135 million to Chhattisgarh this year for developing jatropha nursery facilities.

In May 2005, Chief Minister Raman Singh became the first head of a state government to use jatropha diesel for his official vehicle. Chhattisgarh plans to replace with jatropha fuel all state-owned vehicles using diesel and petrol by 2007.

Chattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority [[1]]

[edit] Jatropha in Tamilnadu

The Tamilnadu Government under the honorable Chief Minister M. Karunanithi is aggressively promoting the plantation of Jatropha to help farmers over come the loss due to irregular rains during the past few years. The government has contracted the development of Jatropha in Tamilnadu in a large scale to four entrepreneurs. Namelu M/s Mohan Breweries and Distilleries Limited. M/s Shiva Distilleries Limited, M/s Dharani Sugars and Chemicals Limited and M/s Riverway Agro Products Private Ltd. Currently the firms have cultivated the plant in about 3 square kilometres as against the goal of 50 km².

The government of Tamilnadu has also abolished purchase tax on Jatropha.

[edit] Jatropha in Rajasthan

Jatropha is ideally suited for cultivation in Rajasthan as it needs very litte water which is scarce in Rajasthan. Jatropa plantations have been undertaken in Udaipur, Kota, Sikar, Banswara, Chittor and Churu districts.

[edit] Jatropha in Maharashtra

In September 2005, the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) joined hands with the Maharashtra State Farming Corporation Ltd (MSFCL) for a jatropha seed-based bio-diesel venture. As part of the project, a jatropha plant would be grown on 500 acres in Nashik and Aurangabad.[5] In November 2005, the Maharashtra Government aimed to cultivate jatropha on 600 km² in the state, with half the land going to the public sector and the other half to the private sector.[6] On July 1 2006, Pune Municipal Corporation took the lead among Indian cities in using bio-diesel from jatropha in over 100 public buses.[7]

[edit] External links

  1. ^ "Asia turns to plants for fuel:Governments seek crops to cut oil dependence". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved on 2006-07-08.
  2. ^ "Rlys to plant jatropha for captive use ". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
  3. ^ "Kalam to attend jatropha planters’ convention". India eNews Pvt. Ltd.. Retrieved on 2006-07-08.
  4. ^ "Chhattisgarh to plant 160 mn jatropha saplings". India eNews Pvt. Ltd.. Retrieved on 2006-04-23.
  5. ^ "HPCL, Maharashtra tie up for bio-diesel venture". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved on 2006-07-08.
  6. ^ "Maharashtra to offer 300 km² to private sector for jatropha cultivation". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved on 2006-07-08.
  7. ^ "Pune take the lead in using bio-diesel for running 105 buses". Indiadaily.com. Retrieved on 2006-07-08.

The Project on Development of Agronomic practices for Jatropha curcas is being implemented, with the financial assistance of DBT, New Delhi. Dr.Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (MS) India has Planted Jatropha on 300 hectares, with the financial assistance of National Oilseeds and Vegetable oils development Board.

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