Jatropha – Bio Energy Crop

Jatropha is the plant with many potential benefits. As the fossil fuels are declining rapidly and the carbon dioxide emission released 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 desert, little care is enough for its growth. It grows both in topical and sub tropical area. The jatropha seed contains 35 percent oil content in it. The oil from jatropha can be utilized as biodiesel blend approximately 20% without refining. The oil burns with clear smoke-free flame, and was checked 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 traditional medication disinfectant and to treat diseases like cancer, stacks, snakebite, paralysis dropsy etc. The seed oil is likewise utilized for lighting and in soap preparation. It is hardly ever used as a live fence in preventing crops from livestock and it occasionally used as home demarcation. It lowers the soil erosion.

The optimal growing conditions for the Jatropha plant ranges from 1000 to1500 mm yearly rains, with temperatures of 20 to 28 C. The soil needs to be complimentary draining without any water logging. But adequate water and is a must for high yield. The jatropha is simple 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 stand up to frost.

The Jatropha Electrification is developing in many nations. Mali is considered to be one of the poorest countries on the planet. At Mali, Garalo Jatropha Producers’ Cooperative (CPP) and the power company ACCESS are the primary organizations establishing jatropha cultivation. The personal power business ACCESS is creates and does electricity sales. Currently 247 households 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) objective of the Ministry of Power (MOP) preparation 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 small power system provides 24-hour power supply at the really cost effective price of 50 cents per light bulb to poor villagers. It is 17.5 KW capacity power plant works 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 reduces 20 tons of carbon dioxide annually. The largest jatropha producing country in Asia will be Indonesia and India. In Africa, Ghana and Madagascar will be the biggest producers. Brazil will be the largest manufacturer in Latin America. The plantation is a labor extensive procedure hence it creates task for numerous poor rural people. Above all Jatropha can be used as a Renewable Energy.