Central institute in talks with SEWA for jatropha cooperative on lines of Amul

Jatropha is one of the best options available for biofuel as it is inedible and does not negatively impact the food chain,he added.

A drought-resistant,non-edible plant,jatropha can be grown commercially with minimal care,on marginal land. The institute is now in talks with the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) for encouraging farmers to take up jatropha plantation.

Dr Ghosh said: “We plan to have a vehicle-mounted machine,which can separate the flesh from its peel while collecting the dry fruit from farmers at their doorstep.”

Higher productivity of jatropha will ensure reduction in the input cost and the cost of the biofuel.

At present,the cost of dry jatropha fruit is around Rs 7 to 8 per kg. The cost of the seed,from which the oil is extracted,is around Rs 11 to 12. The cost of production of bio-diesel is around Rs 35 to 40 per kg. Besides,every part of the plant can be used as a by-product. For instance,the skin can be treated and used as a cooking medium. The seed is crushed for extracting oil. The residue is used as manure for jatropha cultivation. The oil residue is used for manufacturing bio-degradable plastic. “Every part of jatropha can be used. Therefore,it needs higher production,” said Dr Ghosh.

At present,the CSMCRI plant in Bhavnagar produces 500 litres oil per day. Another plant produces 1 tonne bio-fuel per day,which is used as bio-diesel to run military vehicles.

“We are doing a project with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) where military vehicles will be run entirely on bio-diesel,” Dr Ghosh added.