Jatropha – Bio Energy Crop

Jatropha is the plant with lots of prospective benefits. As the fossil fuels are decreasing rapidly and the carbon dioxide emission released from it pollutes the environment, the world is working towards an alternative fuel to conquer it.

The Jatropha curcas is the plant which can grow in semi desert, little care suffices for its development. It grows both in topical and sub tropical region. The jatropha seed contains 35 percent oil content in it. The oil from jatropha can be used as biodiesel blend up to 20% without refining. The oil burns with clear smoke-free flame, and was tested successfully as a fuel for easy diesel engine. It is not a food crop given that the oil is non-edible. The oil is utilized as a standard medication disinfectant and to treat illness like cancer, piles, snakebite, paralysis dropsy etc. The seed oil is also utilized for lighting and in soap preparation. It is seldom used as a live fence in avoiding crops from animals and it sometimes utilized as residential or commercial property demarcation. It reduces the soil erosion.

The optimum growing conditions for the Jatropha plant ranges from 1000 to1500 mm annual rainfall, with temperature levels of 20 to 28 C. The soil must be free draining pipes without any water logging. But appropriate water and nutrition is a should for high yield. The jatropha is easy to grow and it can bear the seeds within a year of planting. It offers oxygen for the planet and it can grow even in poor soil. It can not hold up against frost.

The Jatropha Electrification is developing in many nations. Mali is thought about to be one of the poorest countries in the world. At Mali, Garalo Jatropha Producers’ Cooperative (CPP) and the power business ACCESS are the primary institutions establishing jatropha growing. The private power company ACCESS is generates and does electrical power 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 little 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 supplies 24-hour power supply at the very affordable price of 50 cents per light bulb to poor villagers. It is 17.5 KW capability power plant operates on raw jatropha seed oil.Jatropha is a promising crop for rural advancement. The jatropha oil illuminate rural locations with electricity. The jatropha planting on the has the ability to offer 50-60% of the India’s fuel requirements.

The Jatropha curcas plantation in 1 hectare decreases 20 tons of co2 per 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 largest manufacturer in Latin America. The plantation is a labor intensive process hence it creates job for numerous poor rural individuals. Above all Jatropha can be utilized as a Renewable resource.