With the shortage of Petrodiesel and soaring prices, the world is going the BIO-DIESEL way and INDIA is no exception. Biodiesel is basically a TBO ( Tree borne Oil) and the best source of producing biodiesel is JATROPHA curcas, a plant that grows well mainly in tropical climate.
EUROPE and other non tropical countries, therefore , are a buyer for Jatropha seeds, and seedling of Jatropha from our internal market as well from European countries and other parts of the world but none can supply any Jatropha seeds for the commercial production of Biodiesel, only seeds for cultivation purpose are available and mass scale cultivation is going on in the Indian sub continent. Since wild variety of Jatropha seeds are available from different sources, one should be very careful in ordering seeds. Nursery propagation of Jatropha needs specialized agrotechniques to get plants to yield requisite oil yields and the plant needs specialized training (Prunning) to make it adequately seed bearing just like tea plant and should be done under professional guidance. Seed yield varies from 6MT/ha on the 3rd /4th year depending on agrotechniques.
India produces only 22% of its diesel requirement and 78% is imported at a huge cost in foreign currency and our expenditure and outlay for the import of Petroleum fuel is second to our Defense budget. With the introduction of compulsory use of 10-20% biodiesel in UK, USA, FRANCE, Germany, Japan and other countries who specifies a 40-50% mix by 2010, India has a huge requirement by 2010 to meet the world norms and emission standards and a national policy has already been given a green signal by the GOI in the year 2003. Indian Railways have already completed a trial run on AMRITSAR-SHATABDI EXPRESS. The Chief Minister of CHATTISGARH runs his official vehicle on Biodiesel, HARYANA State Transport buses have been run by using Biodiesel. A train from KHARAGPUR to Howrah in West Bengal had been given a trial run by using Biodiesel. All lands by the side of Railway tracks in India will be planted with JATROPHA and INDIAN OIL and other agencies in possession of a Biodiesel Processing units will eventually process the Jatropha oil into Biodiesel for Indian Railways and for the national needs.
Biodiesel is a better fuel than Petrodiesel and meets most of the chemical/Physical standards of Petrodiesel. Being plant based it does not emit sulphur/CO on burning and is non-polluting, bio degradable and environmentally safe. Biodiesel can be used 10%,20% or in any proportion doping the Petrodiesel and it can be very safely used as 100% replacement of Petrodiesel in all kinds of DISEL ENGINES without any modification of the currently available diesel engines. In line with Mercedez, Daimler Chrysler and other renowned automobile manufacturers, MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA and TATA MOTORS in India have by now extended the engine warranty on use of Biodiesel in their vehicles.
Potential for TEA COMPANIES & Others in possession of landlord who are end users of Diesel oil.
We, in TEA have a huge potential in JATROPHA curcas and BIODIESEL Production.
We are end users of quite a heavy quantity of DIESEL.
We have huge land at our disposal, which we should take under ALTERNATIVE CULTIVATION.
We have readily available Labor force for the cultivation of JATROPHA curcas who are more or less trained in raising the nursery, planting and maintenance of mass scale trees. Jatropha is akin to tea plants and needs more or less the same cultivation methodology inclusive of Prunning etc and once grown, stands and gives fruit & seed crop for nearly 40-50 years. Per hectare seed yield which starts from the 0+1 yr. @ 500kg/ha goes up to 6-12 MT/ha/yr in the 3rd & 4th year. One Ltr. Of Jatropha oil is extracted from 3Kgs of seed under superior agrotechniques, drip and flume irrigation. Left to itself Jatropha is a Drought resistant plant and improves marginal soil immensely.
Jatropha oil cades are as good or better than neem khol etc and gardens can be immensely benefited in BIODIESEL in a special chemical reactor as in a oil refinery but not as complex as Petrodiesel production. A specialized process yields Potassium Sulphate as a by-product, which can then be used as an Inorganic fertilizer to supplement potash in tea and other crop. The standard refining process yields about 10% GLYCERINE as a by product, the market value of which at present are Rs. 40,000 - 50, 000 a MT.
Others who are interested are mostly handicapped as far as huge land availability is concerned and buying huge lands hundreds of hectares are cost prohibitive but big companies are going in even by buying huge lands.
Therefore, Jatropha cultivation holds very promising future for tea companies and with the present scenario in tea, this may be the only answer and saveour for the estates. Loans for the project are being offered by NABARD and other nationalized bank. Govt. agricultural departments, private entrepreneurs, NGO's and other could share our experience and expertise in the field of Jatropha cultivation and biodiesel production.
