Jatropha – Bio Energy Crop

Jatropha is the plant with many potential benefits. As the fossil fuels are declining rapidly and the carbon dioxide emission given off from it pollutes the atmosphere, the world is working towards an alternative fuel to conquer it.

The Jatropha curcas is the plant which can grow in semi dry area, little care is enough for its development. It grows both in topical and sub tropical area. The jatropha seed consists of 35 percent oil content in it. The oil from jatropha can be utilized as biodiesel blend as much as 20% without refining. The oil burns with clear smoke-free flame, and was checked successfully as a fuel for basic diesel engine. It is not a food crop because the oil is non-edible. The oil is used as a standard medicine disinfectant and to treat diseases like cancer, stacks, snakebite, paralysis dropsy etc. The seed oil is also used for lighting and in soap preparation. It is hardly ever utilized as a live fence in avoiding crops from animals and it sometimes utilized as residential or commercial property demarcation. It decreases the soil disintegration.

The optimal growing conditions for the Jatropha plant ranges from 1000 to1500 mm annual rains, with temperatures of 20 to 28 C. The soil should be complimentary draining with no water logging. But appropriate water and nutrition is a must for high yield. The is easy to grow and it can bear the seeds within a year of planting. It provides oxygen for the planet and it can grow even in poor soil. It can not endure frost.

The Jatropha Electrification is developing in many countries. Mali is considered to be one of the poorest countries on the planet. At Mali, Garalo Jatropha Producers’ Cooperative (CPP) and the power business ACCESS are the main institutions establishing jatropha cultivation. The private power business ACCESS is creates and does electricity sales. Currently 247 families are linked to the micro grid after a payment of $30 as a contribution to the connection expenses. Likewise in India, the Rural Electricity Supply Technology (REST) objective of the Ministry of Power (MOP) preparation to produce power for all by 2012. The little scale power generation tasks were developed in Chattisgarh, India. It is being run by Winrock International in the Kabir Dham district. This small power system provides 24-hour power supply at the very affordable cost of 50 cents per light bulb to poor villagers. It is 17.5 KW capacity power plant operates on raw jatropha seed oil.Jatropha is a promising crop for rural advancement. The jatropha oil lights up rural locations with electrical energy. The jatropha planting on the wastelands has the capability to offer 50-60% of the India’s fuel requirements.

The Jatropha curcas plantation in 1 hectare minimizes 20 loads of carbon dioxide each year. The biggest jatropha producing nation in Asia will be Indonesia and India. In Africa, Ghana and Madagascar will be the biggest producers. Brazil will be the largest manufacturer in Latin America. The plantation is a labor extensive process thus it creates job for lots of poor rural people. Above all Jatropha can be utilized as a Renewable resource.