‘Jatropha’ biodiesel. In a speech in 2006, he said out of the 60 million hectares of wasteland available in India, over 30 million hectares are suitable for ‘Jatropha’ cultivation. Recently, the State Bank of India provided a further boost to the cultivation of ‘Jatropha’ by signing a memorandum of understanding with D1 Mohan to give loans totaling Rs 1.3 billion to local
farmers in India, to be paid back with the money that D1 Mohan pays for the harvested ‘Jatropha’ seeds. The Indian Railways have started to use ‘Jatropha oil’ blended with diesel to power its diesel engines with great success. Many Indian states have already jumped onto the ‘Jatropha’ train, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan
and Maharashtra.

Jatropha has been held up as a reliable source of income for India’s poor rural farmers, providing energy self-sufficiently, while reducing fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Several states have distributed plants free of charge to small farmers, encouraging private investment in ‘Jatropha’ plantations and setting up biodiesel processing plants. The ministry of rural development, which is to coordinate the national mission on biofuel when it is approved, estimates that there are already between 500 000 to 600 000 hectares of ‘Jatropha’ growing across India.

The widespread government support has attracted foreign investments. UK-based D1 Oils, the world’s largest commercial cultivator of ‘Jatropha’, has around 80,000 hectares in Chhattisgarh and in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, with plans for an additional 350000 hectares over the next several years. The state government funds ‘Jatropha’ seeds and D1 Oils guarantees to buy the harvested seeds at the price prescribed by the state.

D1 Oils’ Indian operations is focusing on research on yield, and the company is testing a number of Jatropha’ varieties to find which grows best in India’s varied climatic regions. But researches remain unsatisfactory.

The Plant Profile:
‘Jatropha curcus’ is a drought resistant perennial, growing well in marginal/poor soil. It is easy to establish, grows relatively quickly and lives, producing seeds for 50 years. ‘Jatropha’, the wonder plant produces seeds with an oil content of 37%. The oil can be combusted as fuel without being refined. It burns with clear smoke-free flame, tested successfully as fuel for simple diesel engine. The by-products are press cake for a good organic fertilizer and the oil also contains insecticides. It is found to be growing in many parts of the country, rugged in nature and can survive with minimum inputs and is easy to propagate.

Medically it is used for diseases like cancer, piles, snakebites, paralysis, dropsy etc. ‘Jatropha’
grows wild in many areas of India and even thrives on infertile soil. A good crop can be obtained with little effort. Depending on soil quality and rainfall, oil can be extracted from the ‘Jatropha’ nuts after two to five years. The annual nut yield ranges from 0.5 to 12 tons. The kernels consist of oil of about 60 percent; this can be transformed into bio diesel fuel through esterification. ‘Jatropha’ is a valuable multi-purpose crop to alleviate soil degradation, desertification and deforestation, which can be used for bio-energy to replace petrol-diesel, for soap production and climatic protection and hence deserve specific attention. ‘Jatropha’ can help to increase rural incomes, self ustainability and alleviate poverty for women, elderly, children and men, tribal communities, small farmers. It can as well as help to increase income from plantations and agro-industries.

This mission is ambitious yet realistic, which would help India not only develop independently but pour the juice of hard work in Indian brains and bones. There are several Non- governmental organizations working for this mission which will ensure that Jatropha’ is no more a wonder plant but a plant which will make employment and poverty nothing but history in India.