Jatropha – Bio Energy Crop

Jatropha is the plant with numerous potential advantages. As the fossil fuels are declining quickly and the co2 emission released from it pollutes the atmosphere, the world is working towards an alternative fuel to overcome 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 region. The jatropha seed consists of 35 percent oil material in it. The oil from jatropha can be used as biodiesel mix as much as 20% without refining. The oil burns with clear smoke-free flame, and was evaluated effectively as a fuel for simple diesel engine. It is not a food crop because the oil is non-edible. The oil is utilized as a conventional medication disinfectant and to cure diseases like cancer, stacks, snakebite, paralysis dropsy etc. The seed oil is likewise used for lighting and in soap preparation. It is hardly ever utilized as a live fence in preventing crops from animals and it periodically utilized as property separation. It decreases the soil erosion.

The optimal growing conditions for the Jatropha plant varies from 1000 to1500 mm annual rains, with temperature levels of 20 to 28 C. The soil should be totally free draining with no water logging. But appropriate water and nutrition is a must for high yield. The jatropha is simple to grow and it can bear the seeds within a year of . It offers oxygen for the world and it can grow even in bad soil. It can not hold up against frost.

The Jatropha Electrification is developing in many countries. Mali is considered to be one of the poorest countries in the world. At Mali, Garalo Jatropha Producers’ Cooperative (CPP) and the power company ACCESS are the primary organizations establishing jatropha growing. The personal power business ACCESS is produces 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) mission of the Ministry of Power (MOP) planning to produce power for all by 2012. The small scale power generation tasks were developed in Chattisgarh, India. It is being run by Winrock International in the Kabir Dham district. This little power system supplies 24-hour power supply at the very affordable price 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 an appealing crop for rural development. The jatropha oil illuminate backwoods with electrical power. The jatropha planting on the wastelands has the ability to offer 50-60% of the India’s fuel requirements.

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