Govt urged to discourage Jatropha cultivation on fertile land

New Delhi, Oct 13 (UNI) In the absence of any awareness campaign, farmers have resorted to mindless cultivation of Jatropha trees, used for producing bio-diesel, causing a lot of harm to the fertile land in the country, but benefitting seed suppliers in a big way.

The tree, which can grow even on marginal, saline, acidic, alkaline soils and slopy lands, is being cultivated in such areas as terai region of western Uttar Pradesh, a sheer wastage of land which can be used for growing foodgrains.

The problem was highlighted by a number of farmers from terai area of Uttar Pradesh and other states at a National workshop on the role of Agroforestry in rural development held by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in collaboration with other departments.

The government launched a National Mission on Jatropha Biodiesel in 2003 under which 11 million hectares of presently unused lands are to be cultivated with Jatropha, which is part of a major multi-dimensional programme to replace 20 per cent of the country's diesel consumption.

Farmers took to Jatropha cultivation on a large scale for commercial motives.

The participants in the workshop pointed out that before launching any agroforestry programme, the government should educate farmers about what kind of plant was suited for what kind of soil.

In absnece of such knowledge, farmers take to cultivation of the recommended plants without realising its consequences to the soil.

They urged the Ministry of Environment and Forest to ensure all agroforestry projects should be given a go ahead only if agroscientists and farmers of the region concerned clear it.

An agricultural scientist working in a government institute later told UNI that the Jatropha plantation campaign was done in such a way in which seed supplier have made big money.

''The plant is recommended for semi-arid and degraded land in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and others whereas farmers in Uttar Pradesh have taken up large cultivation of the tree on their fertile land, which would not have resulted had there been any awareness,'' said the scientist.

In the process, the seed suppliers have made big money as they naturally went on a advertising offensive to promote the tree's cultivation, he said.

He, however, said the plant has other benefits as it can be developed without much care and irrigation. It possess medicinal as well as other multiple uses, and it can create green cover for long term ecological benefits. Besdies, its cultivation can generate rural employment, he added.

''The only things needed is that we have to decide about the scale of place of its cultivation,'' he added.

UNI NAZ AK HT1530