India Jumps on Jatropha Bandwagon

The poisonous shrub Jatropha curcas has long been used in India as an ideal fuel oil. It is drought-resistant, is capable of growing even in rocky and saline soils and does not compromise food security. The use of jatropha as an environment-friendly energy source has received widespread attention especially in several developing countries in Asia like the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. India’s national biofuel mission, although yet to be approved, now aims to plant 12 million hectares of jatropha and produce biofuels at the village level. The government hopes to reduce the spread of desert and cover arid/semi-arid land with green shrubs while providing farmers with extra earnings. Some Indian states are now providing farmers with free seedlings. However, several scientists are expressing doubts on jatropha cultivation. Since the plant has never been fully domesticated, some of its agronomic properties are not yet fully understood. Indian scientists are now conducting an extensive study to find the ideal water and soil conditions for jatropha.

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