Jatropha – Bio Energy Crop

Jatropha is the plant with lots of possible benefits. As the fossil fuels are declining quickly and the co2 emission discharged from it contaminates the environment, 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 growth. It grows both in topical and sub tropical region. The jatropha seed consists of 35 percent oil content in it. The oil from jatropha can be utilized as biodiesel mix approximately 20% without refining. The oil burns with clear smoke-free flame, and was tested successfully as a fuel for easy diesel motor. It is not a food crop considering that the oil is non-edible. The oil is used as a conventional medication disinfectant and to treat illness like cancer, piles, snakebite, paralysis dropsy etc. The seed oil is also used for lighting and in soap preparation. It is seldom utilized as a live fence in preventing crops from animals and it periodically utilized as home demarcation. It lowers the soil erosion.

The maximum growing conditions for the Jatropha plant varies from 1000 to1500 mm annual rainfall, with temperatures of 20 to 28 C. The soil must be complimentary draining with no water logging. But sufficient water and nutrition is a should for high yield. The jatropha is simple to grow and it can bear the seeds within a year of planting. It provides oxygen for the world and it can grow even in bad soil. It can not withstand frost.

The Jatropha is developing in numerous countries. Mali is considered to be among the poorest countries on the planet. At Mali, Garalo Jatropha Producers’ Cooperative (CPP) and the power business ACCESS are the main institutions establishing jatropha growing. The private power company ACCESS is generates and does electrical energy sales. Currently 247 families are connected 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 established in Chattisgarh, India. It is being run by Winrock International in the Kabir Dham district. This little power system offers 24-hour power supply at the really cost effective cost of 50 cents per light bulb to bad villagers. It is 17.5 KW capability power plant operates on raw jatropha seed oil.Jatropha is a promising crop for rural development. The jatropha oil illuminate backwoods with electricity. The jatropha planting on the wastelands has the capability to provide 50-60% of the India’s fuel requirements.

The Jatropha curcas plantation in 1 hectare minimizes 20 tons of carbon dioxide each year. The biggest jatropha producing country in Asia will be Indonesia and India. In Africa, Ghana and Madagascar will be the largest manufacturers. Brazil will be the biggest producer in Latin America. The plantation is a labor extensive procedure hence it develops task for lots of bad rural individuals. Above all Jatropha can be utilized as a Renewable Energy.