1. The government has established a National Bio-fuel Mission (NBM) earlier. The main focus of NMB is to develop Jatropha and Karanj as Bio-fuel sources. Government is spending more than 1400 crore rupees under NBM. Before taking any steps towards designing National bio-fuel policy, GoI first should declare / release a report of broad achievements of the work done under the NBM and by NOVOD Board. This report should be made public, widely distributed and must include the following:

 

a. Status of development of Jatropha and Karanj varieties suitable for different agro-climatic zones (with oil and yield content)

b. List of pest and diseases observed on Jatropha in various agro-climatic zones and the control measures for the same.

c. Minimum two plots each (with at least 500 tress per plot) for each of the shortlisted varieties, maintained for 6 years minimum (as maximum fruiting is obtained sixth year onward)

d. Expediture details for each of the plots

e. Guiding modules for cultivation practices

 

Jatropha is expected to have economic life of 30 years. So before going for large scale plantation that will occupy the land for almost 40 years ( a long term investment), the government / agriculture universities should maintain a 'demonstration and trial plot' for at least 6 years. (This is just not possible as the work under NBM started actively only in 2004). The government should not go ahead with larger scale plantation, unless there is methodical experience of all aspects of plantation.

 

My guess is that, if government is honest about the report, many myths about Jatropha such as low water requirement, low maintenance, free from pests and diseases etc etc will be uncovered.

 

2. Clear cut norms for purchase rate of oil seeds: In the race of corporates for Biofuel, there is big danger that the Jatropha farmers (irrespective of big or small or marginalized) being reduced to suppliers and dependent on the whims of oil-seed purchasers. To avoid this, the purchase price of seeds should be linked with international oil market (after all, besides reducing CO2 emissions, we also aim to reduce the oil imports).

 

3. I agree with Nikit that the bio-fuel consumption should mainly happen at mainly at local village level. However, to happen this, the biofuel production should be decentralized. Therefore, instead of large scale biodiesel production plants, provision should be made to promote small  to medium scale trans-esterification plants (I should state that I haven't studied the industrial side of bio-diesel production)

 

4. The farmers undertaking Jatropha or Karanj plantation should get a share of benefits of Carbon Credit and there should be a transparent mechanism established to ensure this. (I do not want to go into whether Carbon Trading is right or wrong, my point is the corporate sector should not get all the economic benefits of carbon trading)

 

5. Last, but not least. Today, huge stocks of ethanol are lying with the producers. The reason is, the government is not ready to purchase it at the the price demanded by the producers. Tomorrow, if same thing happens with bio-diesel, the biggest sufferer will not be the big corporate houses, but those who planted Jatropha (the seeds are poisonous, not a single part of the plant is edible, cattle's don't graze). Therefore, there should be a minimum purchase price for the oil seeds meant for bio-diesel.

 

There are many other issues related with livelihoods and marginal farmers and wasteland development. But I will restrict myself here (if the government comes up with the demanded report, then many of these will be answered automatically)

 

Though there is potential in Jatropha, the bio-fuel policy should be carefully designed. Where ever possible, emphahsis should be on indigenous plants and avoidance of mono-culture.