ACTIVE Jatropha Project
ACTIVE has been motivating the indigenous people, by explaining need of Afforstation, promotion of bio-diesel plantations and ensuring the bio diversity by planting endangered spies like Neem,Tamarind,Amla,soup nut,Gum tree etc.,. With our efforts, poor and marginal people are willing to raise plantations in their waste/ideal lands. To start with, ACTIVE has already promoted Jatropha plantations in 6300 acres with the financial support of local corporate sector in 125 villages of 15 mandals in Khammam district. In 125 villages, ACTVE identified 3500 interested and small & marginal farmers for raising Jatropha plantations. Click Here to view photographs of our Project.
The local corporate sector providing grants to ACTIVE organization for meeting expenditures like raising Jatropha seedlings, to conduct farmer’s trainings and organizing them into village associations, the salaries of field staff at the gross root level.
ACTIVE is supposed to raise financial resources to fill the gap areas from other agencies. We are negotiating with local bank and exploring resources for crop investment but it takes long time and not confident of securing the loans from them. Therefore, we are exploring resources from other sources.
Here there are two gap areas as far as funds are concern which are 1).Crop Investment for Deep Plough, Chris Cross cultivation, Pitting charges, pruning, Fertilizers etc., which requires minimum of Rs.5000/-( US $ 110 ). 2). Core Staff salaries & Travel and Office administration etc., Hence, we are exploring financial resources only for above mentioned two gap areas.
We have very limited resources, hence raised Jatropha plantations only in 6300 acres. But if the finanacial resources are available, this organization is willing to extend this programmme in the waste lands. Presently only in Khammam District more than 1.5 lakh acres of waste land is available.
So far we have planned programms up to plantations but if come across good funding assurance from any source, we are ready to plan for processing of bio-fuels and market it. Therefore, we would request you kindly understand the situation and provide us an opportunity for serving small & marginalized communities for improvement of their livelihood in a sustainable manner and take part in eco restoration movement. On hearing from you we will send you the detailed project proposal for your records and necessary approval.
Here are some more details on the project :
- Introduction to Jatropha
- What is Jatropha Curcas plant ?
- BioD Jatropha Plantation & Yield.
- Advantages of Jatropha : a Promising Bio-fuel Crop.
- Jatropha Plantation : Tomorrow's Oil Fields.
- Why Bio-Diesels ? Importance of Bio-Diesels.
- Why ACTIVE is promoting Jatropha Plantation ?
- Advantages of the Project.
Jatropha Plant is considered as the best source of bio fuel among the various plant based fuel resources spread across the globe. With the depletion of the traditional fuel sources.
Jatropha Curcas is a drought resistant plant and has wide adaptability to varied climate and soil. The Seeds of Jatropha Curcas contain viscous oil of about 28 to 35 % by its weight. The oil which is extracted from the seeds using a expeller is then trans-esterified to convert it into bio diesel fuel which can be used as a substitute for fossil fuel.
The demand of oils as an energy source has been rapidly increasing and the mismatch between the demand and supply of oil seeds has initiated various stakeholders in the form of farmers, agro based industries, corporate sectors and, NGO's to go for large scale plantations with Jatropha Curcas as a commercial oil crop.
The various other uses of Jatropha other than bio fuel source include soap production, Organic fertilizer, Medicinal Source, Pest control, etc. This makes Jatropha Plant a unique crop among the various bio fuel plant sources.
The Name Jatropha is derived from the Greek word 'Jatros' means 'Doctor' and 'trophe' means 'Nutrition'. The botanical name of Jatropha Curcas is known as Jatropha Curcas L. and it belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. Jatropha Curcas is a multipurpose shrub found throughout the tropics, known by 200 different names in various parts of the globe.
Jatropha Curcas is a deciduous large shrub or small tree, about 3 - 5 m in height with smooth grey bark, which exudes whitish colored watery latex when cut. The cut branches sprout readily and grow rapidly which makes it suitable for fencing. The leaves are green to pale green, broad and usually simple, angular, deeply palmately 3-5 lobed.
Jatropha Curcas grows on a wide range of climates and soils. Jatropha plant is established on degraded, gravelly, sandy or loamy soil with adequate nutrient content. Being a species of arid and semi-arid tropics, it survives even on areas receiving very low rainfall. Jatropha Curcas is highly adaptable species and its strength as a crop comes from its ability to grow on poor and dry sites.
While Jatropha Curcas plant starts yielding from 9 - 12 months time, the effective yield is obtained only after 2 years time. The yield varies with the location, agro climatic conditions. Planting materials and the plantation management practice has a major effect in the yield obtained from Jatropha Curcas plantation. The harvested seeds can be either used for oil extraction or sold to the oil extraction companies. We do provide complete plantation consultancy services for corporate companies, NGOs and individual farmers, according to their requirements.
The bi-products like glycerin obtained during the conversion of Jatropha oil to Bio-diesel and it is used for purposes like soap making and other glycerin based by-products. The oil cake obtained during this process is also useful for bio-manure. Jatropha Curcas has a wide range of medicinal properties, hence making it a multi-purpose commercial crop with its major use in bio-diesel production.
- Jatropha Curcas needs very less amount of water for survival - only about 10 inches (250 mm) of rainfall per year - thus can be grown in arid regions and will grow well on marginal lands.
- Once grown, it has a long life, about 40-50 years and needs very minimal maintenance when compared to other crops.
- It can stop land degradation and reverse deforestation.
- Intercropping can be done with various food crops and won't compete
Jatropha Curcas is hardy drought resistant and grows well in tropical and subtropical regions in a band around the earth between latitudes 30 degrees north and south of the Equator. Jatropha Curcas Trees have a lifespan of up to 30 -40 years.
Jatropha Curcas grows on a wide range of land types, including non-arable, marginal and waste land, and need not compete with vital food crops for good agricultural land. Jatropha can be intercropped with various crops including vegetables, tubers, and medicinal plants.
The lifecycle production and use of bio-diesel produces approximately 80% less carbon dioxide emissions, and almost 100% less sulphur dioxide. Combustion of bio-diesel alone produces over a 90% reduction in total unburned hydrocarbons, and a 75-90% reduction in aromatic hydrocarbons. Bio-diesel further provides significant reductions in particulates and carbon monoxide than conventional diesel fuel.
- Bio-diesel is the only alternative fuel that runs in any conventional, unmodified diesel engine.
- Needs no change in refueling infrastructures and spare part inventories.
- Maintains the payload capacity and range of conventional diesel engines.
- Diesel skilled mechanics can easily attend to bio-diesel engines.
- 100% Domestic Fuel.
- Neat bio-diesel fuel is non-toxic and biodegradable. Based on Ames Mutagenicity tests, bio-diesel provides a 90% reduction in cancer risks.
- Cetane number is significantly higher than that of conventional diesel fuel.
- Lubricity is improved over that of conventional diesel fuel.
- Has a high flash point of about 300 F compared to that of conventional diesel, which has a flash
Global energy demand leads to massive opportunity for bio-fuels production .There is, globally, massive demand for new sources of oil driven by ever-increasing demands for energy. At the same time, the reserves of fossil fuels are declining which is leading to ever-increasing prices and concerns over security of supply. These circumstances have made the production of oil and energy from crops not only financially viable, but strategically important. As such there are a number of reasons having a strong bio-fuels market and hence for developing a bio-fuels business, not least the environmental and socio-developmental reasons, but the bio-fuels business stands on its own from an economic perspective.
Bio fuel, "Diesel" from Jatropha has the ability to lift many people from poverty to financial independence, from despair to respect and unemployment to business owners.
Reliance is set to become one of the world's major promoters and producer of Jatropha focusing on producing Bio- oil and Bio-diesel from Jatropha plant oils and believes there are globally important opportunities to be exploited.
We shall explain that what is the opportunity and how we should intend to capitalize on it, whilst providing sustainable development in the areas within which we work.
Once the project is implemented :
- Farmers would earn from Jatropha farming.
- Farm worker would have employment.
- Small rural enterprises would sell or purchase the seeds.
- Small scale industries grow for oil production.
- Diesel fuel production would further provide business opportunity.
- By products like press-cake would be traded by villagers.
- Energy employment and earnings would go together.