Dear Chandrashekar,
I am a graduate student in University of California at Berkeley, USA and my dissertation is on the factors motivating adoption or non-adoption of crops like Jatropha, Pongamia, Castor etc. for biodiesel production in India. I am interested conducting a survey of farm households to assess the incentives and disincentives they face and what is the impact of land use change. Who are the likely winners and losers in this industry?

I would be very interested in studying your report. I along with a couple of students at Berkeley did a survey last summer which was focussed on the downstream aspects of cultivation namely processing and refining and we concluded the biggest risks and uncertainties n the cultivation side. Moreover we found that the use of common lands for biodiesel crops is likely to be more contentious than the use of private farm land given the diverse needs people use common lands for.

I will be happy share that report with you.

Thanks
Deepak.

On 9/4/06, CJ <cjoglekar2002@... > wrote:

Dear Viren,

 

We are a Pune based NGO working with focus on "Resources and Livelihood".

 

For last three months we have been conducting a study on techno-economic feasibility of jatropha form small farmers perspective. Our findings are strikingly similar to those voiced in the workshop. Our report will be ready for publicatio withing next two weeks (it is almost 50 page study report with emphasis on technical status of Jatropha development, the possible economic benefits in present situation, vulnerabilities and implications on employment, read livelihod, generation).

 

On basis of the study we are strongly opposing undertaking Jatropha plantation through the Employment Guarantee Scheme of Maharashtra.

 

Can you provide me the contact details of the individuals mentioned in your text? If possible can you arrange to send me a copy of the workshop abstracts?

 

Regards

Chandrashekhar

Viren Lobo < vlobo_1@...> wrote:

Workshop on ` Biofuels the issues involved , specific implications
for wastelands and livelihoods'  


A workshop on the issue of Biofuels , wastelands and livelihoods was
organized by SPWD at Indian Institute of Public Administration New
Delhi on 29th August 2006.        Mr V. B. Eswaran in his opening
remarks expressed concern over the  way in which Jatropha is being
promoted . He cited a similar thrust given to Eucalyptus which ended
in disaster. Mr.Sardana mentioned that this study built on a study
done by IIFM interns.

The studies have covered the States of Rajasthan , Chattisgarh ,
Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand . The study has
examined among other things the policy of the government with respect
to biofuels and its transalation on the ground. The major issues that
have emerged from the study and the discussions that ensued are as
below

1.      Enhancing biofuel availability to 13m tons is the major
objective that is being sought to be achieved by the thrust given to
Jatropha by the National Biofuel mission . Experience on the ground
shows that it is unlikely that either the objective of wastelands
development or wage employment will be achieved             ( since
better land is required for better productivity and this will result
in labour replacement and not labour increase ).
2.      Given the current levels of productivity and oil content, the
price that can be realized by farmers ranges from Rs 3/kg seed to Rs
7/ kg seed . The former is when a market for oil cake and glycerol is
not found, while the later if the procuring agency is able to tap the
export market . A short term seed market exists where seeds are sold
for as high as Rs 60/ Kg but this market is very limited.
3.      Other options exist both in terms of biofuels as well as in
terms of reduction of CO2 emissions. One option suggested by Dr
Vardarajan was to explore the butanol route ( as compared to methanol
and ethanol at present) .
4.      While the major issue being touted is energy self
sufficiency, companies like D1oils have entered into the Indian
biofuel market due to potential for export to the EU market, where
the price is currently $ 200/ ton higher. With this remunerative
market, it is likely that there could be a shift in plantation to the
more productive private lands.
5.      The arrangements being worked out with farmers by D1 Mohan
and others involves a tie up with Banks to provide loans. While the
loan is to be recovered from the sale of oil seed, the risk bearing
is with farmers. It is clear that the burden ( in terms of price
realized ) of how the Biofuel market will turn out in future is on
the farmer. Reliance on the other hand is exploring the possibility
of dealing with a producers organization, that can contract to sell
to Reliance at the existing market prices . Reliance has found that
in terms of biofuel, there is very little work on the ground and they
had to resort to their own experiments. The plan of putting 13m has
under biofuel is more of hype than reality at present. Reliance is
therefore looking at more than one route to meet their energy 
requirements.     
6.      Considerable research is required on the nature of pests that
attack Jatropha , also research on quality of seeds in terms of
productivity and oil content needs to systematised . There is no
organization that has been designated with the responsibility for
coming out with certified seeds in desired quantities.
7.      One needs not only to look at the supply side chain but also
the demand side. Can we increase the efficiency of the engines ? With
respect for pump sets, can we say that the technology will remain as
it is ?
8.      Ultimately one has to look at the overall use of the land
both from the ecological angle as well as how it meets the livelihood
needs of the people.  
 

The land policies for allotment of wastelands to private parties in
five states ( Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Gujarat , Andhra Pradesh and
Tamil Nadu ) were studied . The major features  are as follows
1.      Land between 100 has to 20,000 has is being offered .
2.      Horticulture , vegetable cultivation and biofuels are among
the uses this land can be put to . Land may also be allotted for
setting up processing facilities.
3.      Priority will be given for setting up of drip irrigation
facilities , sprinklers etc. Also for export orientation.
4.      The lease rent to be paid was nominal, subject to utilisation
of the land as per the project proposal . 

In the discussions that followed, it was clear that the land policies
are loaded in favour of industry.

Concluding the discussion Dr. Nath mentioned that any talk of
partnership between industry and farmers is like a relationship
between a cat and a mouse. The history of Corporates having
partnership with farmers in this country have ended in disaster. It
is better that one thinks in clear business terms what one has in
mind. We have also to be  explicit in who gains and who  loses .  


Viren Lobo
31/8/2006

 


 
 

************************************************************************************
"Dying is an art"- Sylvia Plath in Lady Lazarus
************************************************************************************

http://www.livejournal.com/users/sharevision/

************************************************************************************

---

Do you Yahoo!?
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.