Jatropha – Bio Energy Crop

Jatropha is the plant with numerous prospective benefits. As the fossil fuels are declining quickly and the carbon dioxide emission discharged from it pollutes the atmosphere, the world is working towards an alternative fuel to overcome it.

The Jatropha curcas is the plant which can grow in semi arid region, little care suffices for its growth. It grows both in topical and sub tropical area. The jatropha seed consists of 35 percent oil content in it. The oil from jatropha can be used as biodiesel mix as much as 20% without refining. The oil burns with clear smoke-free flame, and was tested effectively as a fuel for basic diesel motor. It is not a food crop considering that the oil is non-edible. The oil is used as a standard medication disinfectant and to treat illness like cancer, piles, snakebite, paralysis dropsy etc. The seed oil is likewise used for lighting and in soap preparation. It is rarely used as a live fence in preventing crops from livestock and it occasionally used as home demarcation. It decreases the soil erosion.

The maximum 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 free draining pipes with no 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 provides oxygen for the planet and it can grow even in bad soil. It can not stand up to frost.

The Jatropha Electrification is developing in numerous countries. Mali is thought about to be one of the poorest countries in the world. At Mali, Garalo Cooperative (CPP) and the power business ACCESS are the main institutions establishing jatropha growing. The private power business ACCESS is produces and does electrical energy sales. Currently 247 households are linked to the micro grid after a payment of $30 as a contribution to the connection costs. Likewise in India, the Rural Electricity Supply Technology (REST) objective of the Ministry of Power (MOP) planning to produce power for all by 2012. The small scale power generation jobs were established in Chattisgarh, India. It is being run by Winrock International in the Kabir Dham district. This small power system supplies 24-hour power supply at the extremely inexpensive 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 development. The jatropha oil illuminate backwoods with electrical energy. The jatropha planting on the wastelands has the ability to offer 50-60% of the India’s fuel requirements.

The Jatropha curcas plantation in 1 hectare minimizes 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 biggest manufacturers. Brazil will be the biggest producer in Latin America. The plantation is a labor intensive process thus it produces task for numerous bad rural individuals. Above all Jatropha can be used as a Renewable Energy.