I am studying in the US and have been following the email discussions but haven't participated much till now. I would like to say two things, first about the US biofuels scenario and second the Indian scenario.
The US uses corn and soybeans which are food grains to produce ethanol and biodiesel. About 17% of all corn is used to produce 4.5 Billion gallons of ethanol which is a mere 3% of the 140 Billions gallons of gasoline it uses today. It is a similar situation for soybeans. So there are serious questions about first the amount of food grains we are using as fuel when there is so much starvation in the third world and second, what is going to happen to the forest and other ecosystems if we are to expand cropland for fuel production. Third, the amount of coal and natural gas used to produce fertilizers and other inputs for cultivation is a big negative for biofuels. What they do achieve is reduce dependence of petroleum which some people care more about than the previous issues. So people are talking of alternatives like non-grain based fuel like cellulosic ethanol which is about converting grass, sugarcane bagasse and other agricultural residues into ethanol etc. It is all about biotechnology here and India has to invest in this research.
Second, coming to the Indian scene, I would like to say I am a little troubled by the fact that Jatropha seems to be the only source that people, business and policy makers talk about. The very reason for switching away from petroleum to biofuel is the diverse sources that we could produce it from. Even for biodiesel we have Pongamia, Castor, Neem. I am not proposing Soy or Palm because these are edible oils which sell at Rs.60 per kg and no one would want to sell it as fuel @ Rs.35/lit not to mention the kind of land and other inputs we need for growing them. Atleast we are looking at wastelands and not agricultural lands.
In conclusion,
1. I am NOT OPTIMISTIC about sugarcane-ethanol and palm or soy-biodiesel in the long run
2. I strongly favour diversification away from Jatropha into Pongamia, Castor, Neem and also oppose monocropping. Especially Pongamia seems to offer higher benefits in all aspects expect for the 1 or 2 additional years of waiting for maturation.
3. Above all, we need to talk about conservation and fuel efficiency as the least-cost best-fit option for fuel shortage problems. We cannot just look at increasing supply like the US.
I will be glad to hear your comments
Sincerely
Deepak Rajagopal
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>From: Ravinder Singh <povertyfree77@...>
>Reply-To: jatropha@...
>To: jatropha@..., pankajoudhia@...
>Subject: [jatropha] No Opportunity But High Risk In Jatropha!!!
>Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 13:18:19 -0800 (PST)
>
> No Opportunity But High Risk In Jatropha!!!
>
> Dear Nandkumar,
> I talked to Southern Railways who are pioneering Jatropha cultivation
>told me that yield of the seed crops is between 1T to 3T per hectare. The
>procurement rate fixed for the crop is Rs.5/- per kg. So you will get mere
>Rs. 5,000/- to Rs.15,000/- per hectare return. If you account for labor and
>own effort you get nothing from the venture.
>
> But if after a year or two there are few death due to adulteration of
>the Jatropha with Edible Oils resulting in deaths, Supreme Court or State
>Government may even ban cultivation and processing of the crops investors
>will be ruined.
>
> I have posted links to Daimler Chrysler site- The yield of processed &
>refined oil is 1300 kg from 8000 kg of seeds. This is half of projections
>in Government brochures. So you can straight away assume viability is
>seriously challenged.
>
> Now come the issue of de-oiled extracts. Even if after treatment to
>neutralize "Poison" in the seeds, I don't think animals will consume it.
>Animals are smarter than people.
>
> Palm oil is a very good alternative to Jatropha though I am not familiar
>with its cultivation that give 6T of Oil or 10 times of Jatropha. If you
>could provide 1-2 irrigations Sugar Cane is excellent for Ethanol
>production. TN is ideal for Palm Oil cultivation.
>
> India can easily switch to Ethanol cultivation but Mani Shankar in one
>seminar informed that Taxes on petroleum yield 1,00,000 crores which the
>Government may not like to give up that run corruption machine.
>
> So all kind of alternatives available.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ravinder
>
>
> "Nandkumar" < nandup_in@...> -----
>
> Helllo Ravinder,
> I never said that the Jatropha is the best solution.
>
> Neither, I am against any other alternative solution.
>
> I will be very happy, in case, Jatropha is dropped; because, other
>better solution is available.
>
> It is for the experts and finally for the Government to decide and
>implement what is best for India.
>
> You have every right to oppose the Government and her policy.
>
> Also, I have an equal right to support this Government, wherever I feel
>that is necessary.
>
> For your kind information, I am neither a Government Officer nor a
>Politician.
> I am a Technocrat, and I see enough opportunity in Jatropha, so I
>support it.
> If you think, I am going to lose money in this venture, than you are
>welcome to advise me.
>
> About other points in your letter, I will reply later.
> With regards,
> Nandkumar
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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