Assam government to take up Jatropha plantation

Guwahati, Jul 12 (UNI) With an aim to make a good business proposition, Asom government has decided to go for Jatropha (bio-diesel) plantation in a big way in the state, official sources said here today.

The state is climatically and agronomically suited for Jatropha plantation. The state government has decided to adopt environment friendly production of jatrofa oil as part of its energy saving measures in a big way on both in the forest and non-forest land through Forest Development Agencies (FDAs), self-help groups and other institutions.

Plantation of jatrofa would increase green coverage of land and to encourage the use of a more environment friendly fuel.

The state government has also proposed to constitute a state level Jatropha Mission for effective implementation of the project.

The multiple impact of this strategy on the environment would be extensive plantation of jatrofa plant (jatropha curcas, ratanjyot or wild castor) to reduce dependence on petroleum based fuels which are non-renewable, expensive and harmful for environment.

Sources said investing on jatropha plantation means investing in the future technology and it is also helping in increasing the green coverage of the land, which is badly need of the hour.

Sources further said that Jatrofa plant has been identified as suitable plant for producing bio-diesel in Indian climatic conditions. It can be grown in semi-arid conditions, tolerate scanty to heavy rainfall and has low moisture demands.

The plant can withstand long periods of drought and can also grown on stony and shallow soil. The Jatropha tree begins to yield oil sheeds by the third year of its plantation and continue to bear fruit for about 25-30 years.

Bio-deisel can be extracted from the oilsheeds by expelling as well as by solvent extraction, the residue materials left is protien rich organic manure. Bio-diesel is a high-octane non edible vegitable oil which is completely combustible, completes the carbon dioxide cycle and has inbuilt oxygen content, it added.

UNI BS BA RD 1251