President to inaugurate workshop on bio-diesel

Guwahati, Oct 8: President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam will inaugurate a national workshop on bio-diesel, organised by the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) here on October 17.

NEDFi sources yesterday said the President will dedicate NEDFi Bio-Diesel Demonstration Centre (Indhan) to the people of the North East on the occasion.

Experts in the field of jatropha cultivation, post-harvesting management, processing, marketing, financing and linkages from all over the country are expected to participate in the workshop.

The NEDFi had been working on commercialization of medicinal and aromatic plants since 2001.

In order to further the growth and usage of these plants as well as develop their commercial potential, in 2004 NEDFi set up a state-of-the-art R&D centre for medicinal and aromatic plants at Khetri near here in 2004.

In 2005, NEDFi had taken up a pilot projet for exploration and commercialisation of jatropa for bio-diesel.

UNI