Biodiesel Conference Towards Energy Independence – Focus on Jatropha Papers presented at the Conference Rashtrapati Nilayam, Bolaram, Hyderabad on 9 – 10 June, 2006 Editors Brahma Singh Maj. Gen (Retd), R. Swaminathan V. Ponraj Rashtrapati Bhawan New Delhi Contents Preface ix Purpose of the Conference xi Farmers’ Experience 1. Farmer’s Observations : Maharashtra 3 Anil Harlalka 2. The Jatropha Experience : Andhra Pradesh 9 Naageshwar Sharma 3. The Jatropha Hype : Promise and Performance 16 V. Ranga Rao 4. Jatropha Cultivation in Punjab 21 Brig (Retd) K.S. Dhillon 5. Farmers’ Observations : Tamil Nadu 25 Rakesh Gupta 6. Biodiesel through Jatropha Curcas : A Critical Analysis 31 Vaibhav Dange 7. Biofuel Park at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi 37 Brahma Singh and P.N. Joshi Status of Jatropha 8. Prospects and Potential of Jatropha Curcas for 43 Biodiesel Production R.S. Kureel 9. Biodiesel Situation in Tamil Nadu 75 M. Paramathma, K.T. Parthiban and P. Raghuram Singh 10. Biofuel Development Programme in Chhattisgarh 86 R.K. Chaturvedi Quality Planting Material 11. Seed Standards for Quality Seedling Production 97 M. Paramathma and P. Srimathi 12. Quality Planting Material and Seed Standards in Jatropha 129 Renu Swarup 13. Development of Interspecific Hybrids in Jatropha 136 M. Paramathma, S. Reeja, K.T. Parthiban, D. Malarvizhi 14. Strategies for Development of Quality Planting Stock 143 of Jatropha Curcas for Biofuel Plantations S.L. Swamy and Lalji Singh 15. Influence of Seed Management Techniques for Production 158 of Quality Seedlings in Jatropha P. Srimathi, and M. Paramathma 16. Quality Planting Material and Seed Standards in 179 Jatropha Curcas Naresh Kaushik 17. Importance of Raising Elite Planting Material of Jatropha 197 Curcas L. for Energy Independence of India S.B. Lal, and Biswarup Mehera 18. Status of Research Activity on Jatropha Curcas in Orissa 203 University of Agriculture and Technology R.K. Patnaik Land Availability 19. Land Availability for Biofuel Plantation 208 D. Ramakrishnaiah 20. Availability of Land for Jatropha Plantation in Chhattisgarh 218 Purna Chandra Mishra vi Production Practices 21. Production Practices Including Post-Harvest Management 223 of Jatropha Curcas V.K. Gour 22. Production Practices and Post-Harvest Management 252 in Jatropha Lalji Singh, S.S. Bargali and S.L. Swamy 23. Jatropha (Physic Nut) in Research Frame at Pantnagar 268 Arvind Shukla Extraction and Transesterification 24. Biodiesel Production through Transesterification 285 D.K. Tuli 25. Biodiesel an Environmentally Friendly Alternate Fuel 289 Experience of Indian Railways M. Jaya Singh 26. The Vision “Biodiesel” – Hurdles in the Way for Achieving 291 Raju Mansinghka Linkages 27. Biodiesel : Technology and Business Opportunities – 303 An Insight S Biswas, N Kaushik and G Srikanth 28. Linkages for Promotion of Biodiesel Sector in India 331 Praveen Mithra BIOFUEL POLICY 29. Draft National Policy on Biofuels 335 D.K. Khare Programme Details 351 List of Participants 359 vii Preface ‘Energy Independence’ is one of the vital areas to make India a developed nation. Among different types of energy sources bio-energy through plant/animal route has to play a great role as the end of fossil fuel age has already began. Among the bio-energy, plant route is considered very promising because of its renewable nature. Plants yielding oil are considered suitable for production of bio-fuel particularly biodiesel. Because of heavy requirement of edible oil, non-edible oil yielding plants are considered ideal for Indian condition for production of biodiesel. Planners and scientists in this context have rightly focused on non-edible oil yielding plant/tree/bush, Jatropha curcus, the Physic nut. The programme on Jatropha plantation, processing etc was taken up in almost in all the states but there seems to be hurdles in production and processing etc. at every stage being a new venture with a new crop. In above context, this biodiesel conference has been convened by The President of India to have first hand information from framers, processors, Govt. and private agencies. The deliberations are expected to address some of the hurdles. In organization of the conference help and assistance have been taken from different agencies, such as Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Forest and Environment, Dr. Kureel, Director NOVOD Board, Dr. Panjab Singh, VC, BHU and others. We are thankful for their assistance and constructive suggestions. We are also thankful to all the contributors and participants who at a very short notice have submitted manuscript and agreed to attend the conference. We shall be failing in our duty if we do not put on record the guidance and assistance provided by the President’s Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhavan particularly by Shri P.M. Nair, Secretary to the President; Shri A.K. Mangotra, Joint Secretary to the President; Shri Satish Mathur, Director A&E; Smt. Rasika Chaubey, IFA; Shri S. M. Khan, Press Secretary, Shri Barun Mitra, Director, CA–I and CA–II and Shri Nitin Wakankar, Dy. Press Secretary. We acknowledge the untiring efforts made by Dr. A.L. Moorthy, Director, DESIDOC; Shri S.B. Gupta, Scientist, DRDO HQrs; and Shri A. Saravanan, Scientist, DESIDOC for their help in editing, designing and producing this publication in a very short time. The help rendered by the staff of Garden Section and Office of the Director (TI) of Rashtrapati Bhavan particularly by Shri Hemant Kumar is thankfully acknowledged. Delhi Brahma Singh 06.06.2006 Maj. Gen (Retd.) R. Swaminathan V. Ponraj x Purpose of the Conference His Excellency, The President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Distinguished Participants to the Conference, Media Persons, Organizers, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the President’s Secretariat and on my own behalf it is my proud privilege to welcome you all to the two days conference on “Biodiesel Conference : Towards Energy Independence – Focus : Jatropha” at Rashtrapati Nilayam, Bolaram, Hyderabad. Hope you are reasonably comfortable. This Rashtrapati Nilayam was built in 1896 which was taken over from the Nizam of Hyderabad after India attained Independence. Like Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, this Nilayam is also the soul of the Country and belongs to the General Public of the great nation, the India/ The Bharat. The aim of the Conference is to achieve “Energy Independence or Energy Self Reliance or Self Sufficiency”. As you all know fossil fuel, one of the major contributors to energy is not only expensive but is going to be not available shortly because of its finite quantity. The alternatives to it, being attempted are many separately for petrol, diesel, electricity etc. Diesel through bio (plant of animal) route is one of the most promising and strong renewable alternatives. Mr. Rudolf Diesel developed first engine to run on peanut biodiesel. Jatropha/Ratanjyot/Physic Nut is considered to hold promise to be major contributor because of its several favourable characteristics. Of late Jatropha has not only been projected to hold promise for biodiesel but also solve host of other national problems like utilization of waste/barren/forest land, rural employment, carbon credit, availability of bio fertilizers etc. At present public and private sectors are promoting Jatropha production, processing and marketing. xi But desired/proportionate results are not visible. All the players in the Jatropha production, oil extraction, esterification, marketing and other associated ventures don’t seem to be very comfortable. Some of them have started making sound; others are quietly trying to correct if something has been found missing at some stage. This concern and discomfort about Jatropha venture for biodiesel/biofuels has reached the President’s House. There are complaints and concern by farmers and others. The President’s House being an advocator of Jatropha as potential tree to yield biodiesel at commercial scale, felt very concerned. Someone out of you have mentioned that remarkable progress in Jatropha venture has been made inspite of your hands, legs and eyes being tied down. The purpose of this Conference therefore is to create a feeling of your hands, legs and eyes unshackled. His Excellency, The President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who is present with you all here, was pleased to convene this conference involving all concerned (farmers, industries, scientists, govt. agencies, automobiles industries etc.) at Rashtrapati Nilayam, Hyderabad to take stock of the present position and deliberate corrective measures to boost up steps towards achieving the goal of energy independence. The importance of the Conference can hardly be over emphasized. The President himself is present and would participate in the deliberations. Ratanjyot/Jatropha curcas is a plant, which has come in prominence in India in past couple of years. Earlier forest and agriculture scientists were researching it upon in a routine manner. Jatropha was mainly known in India among herbalists for its several medicinal properties. This is a unique plant owned/disowned by everyone in Agriculture, Rural Development, Forest and Environment, Petroleum Non-Conventional Energy, Panchayati Raj and Finance Ministries. It is not a food, fodder, forest, fiber but a fuel crop. On fuel crops in our country there are very xii few research institutes. With the result improved/high yielding varieties of Jatropha for different regions in the country are not available. Region specific agro technology packages for Jatropha cultivation are not