Poisoning: an unnatural cause of morbidity and mortality in rural india
AK Batra, AN Keoliya, GU Jadhav - Journal of the Association of
Physicians of India, 2003 - japi.org
... also known as Ratan-Jot (Physic Nut or Jatropha curcas); all
exclusively the ... Ranbaxy
Oration - 2005 Hoechst Senior Lectureship - 2005 There are no
prescribed ...


For complete article visit at

http://japi.org/October2003/O-955.pdf

Selected World Literature Confirming Weedy and Invasive status of
poisonous Jatropha

Fosberg, F. R., M.-H. Sachet and R. L. Oliver. 1979. A geographical
checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:140-141.

Meyer, J-Y. 2000. Preliminary review of the invasive plants in the
Pacific islands (SPREP Member Countries) in: Sherley, G. (tech. ed.).
Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft
regional strategy. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme,
Samoa. p. 107.

Raulerson, L., A. F. Rinehart and M. C. Falanruw. 1996. A botanical
reconnaissance of the proposed Compact-impact road alignment on
Babeldaob Island, Republic of Palau. U. of Guam Herbarium Cont. No.
32. p. 28.

Smith, A. C. 1981. Flora Vitiensis nova: A new flora of Fiji. Lawai,
Kauai, Hawai`i. National Tropical Botanical Garden. 2:545-546.

Smith, N. M. 2002. Weeds of the wet/dry tropics of Australia - A
field guide. Environmental Centre NT, Inc. p. 30-31.

Space, J. C. and T. Flynn. 2001. Report to the Kingdom of Tonga on
invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service,
Honolulu. 78 pp.

Space, J. C. and T. Flynn. 2002a. Report to the Government of the
Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA
Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

Space, J. C. and T. Flynn. 2002b. Report to the Government of Samoa
on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest
Service, Honolulu. 83 pp.

Space, J. C., B. Waterhouse, J.S. Denslow, D. Nelson and T. Mazawa.
2000. Invasive plant species in Chuuk, Federated States of
Micronesia. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 41 pp.

Space, J.C., B.M. Waterhouse, J.E. Miles, J. Tiobech and K.
Rengulbai. 2003. Report to the Republic of Palau on invasive plant
species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 179
pp.

Stone, B. C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:380.

Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper
No. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 p.

Wiggins, I. L. and D. M. Porter. 1971. Flora of the Galapagos
Islands. Stanford Univ. Press. p. 591-592.

Yuncker, T.G. 1959. Plants of Tonga. B. P. Bishop Museum Bull.
220:165.

"Say no to Jatropha" discussion forum
"This Group is for discussion on all the negative aspects of so-called
Bio-diesel crop Ratanjot (Jatropha).The members will find all the
negatvie information about this exotic plant at one place."

http://www.hear.org/species/jatropha_curcas/

Biodiesel  - will an alien tree deliver?

Introducing an alien species into the environment, even if it could
potentially contribute to rural employment and poverty alleviation and
an alternative source of bio-fuel, is not an easy consideration. The
social, economic and environmental implications need to be well
understood. Investigations are currently underway to determine the
potential for South Africa to 'grow' its own energy in the form of a
bio-diesel producing tree.
Lani Holtzhausen reports.
http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2005/september/biodiesel.htm

=============
African scientists are very careful and conducting tests before
adopting exotic plant Jatropha. Can we expect the same steps from
Indian scientists and politicians before mass scale plantation??

Pankaj Oudhia

From india thinkers net discussion forum.

"DNRM" <dnrm@...>
>
> From: Viren [mailto:vlobo_1@...]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 9:56 AM
> To: DNRM
> Subject: Mizo farmer's staple food will be biodiesel
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: River Basin Friends(NE)
> Sent: Monday, October 10, 2005 12:30 PM
> Subject: [indiathinkersnet] Mizo farmer's staple food will be
biodiesel
>
>
> Dear friends ,
> Will any community survive if mono culture is introduced and
biodiversity
is
> ruptured, where as market will be controlled by others and local
farming
> system which supports the lively hood now will be replaced by
JATROPHA,let
> us think about Mizoram's tribal community after five years .
> Jatropha toxicity is well studied around the world. The reference
> literatures are full of information about its toxic effects. At the
website
>
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Jatropha_curcas.html#To
> xicity. The website
http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/jcurc.htm
> scientific evidences of Jatropha poisoning.
> The senior natives of Chhattisgarh are also aware of its harmful
effects.
> They explain its effects in simple words'Ek Beeja Se Pet Saf Hothe,
Du Se
> Au, Teen Se Aspatal aur Char Se Upar' (One seed clears the motion,
two
> results in more, three takes to hospital and four to God).
>
> regards
> ravi
> Mizoram aims to become largest 'Jatropha' grower
> AIZAWL, Oct 8 - Agriculture Minister H Rammawi has expressed hope
that
> Mizoram can be the largest Jatropha producing state in the country.
>
> "We will try to make Mizoram the largest Jatropha producing state in
India.
> This is possible with our climate which is perfect for the oil-
bearing
plant
> and our large area of arable land.
>
> Mizo farmers can use the plant to substitute it for rice grown
according
to
> traditional shifting jhum cultivation," the minister told officials
of the
> D1 Oils India (Private) Limited.
>
> On invitation from the state Agriculture minister, Steve Doury, a
> London-based regional director and Surju Singh, chairman and
managing
> director of D1 Oils India (P) Limited had a meeting with the state
> Horticulture officials and Mizoram Intodelhna (self-sufficiency)
Project
> officials on their arrival here recently.
>
> The state's Horticulture department is tying up with the D1 Oils
India
> company on a buy-back policy on produce.
>
> "According to the MoU, the company will take up Jatropha
cultivation in
> Mizoram in one lakh hectare from the next kharif season. The
company will
> provide seeds and buy back the produce," Samuel Rosanglura,
director of
> Horticulture said today. The Horticulture department has already
introduced
> Jatropha plantation under the Cengtral scheme of Horticulture
Mission. It
> has distributed 600 quintals of Jatropha seeds to rural farmers
this year.
> http://www.assamtribune.com
>
>
>
>
> River Basin Friends
> AKAJAN
> District-Dhemaji.787059.
> Assam. India
> E mail.assamravi@...
>
>
>

NITYANANDA PADHY

Please visit at

http://www.hear.org/pier/wra/australia/jacur-wra.htm

Here is one more evidence that D1 oil is loss making company as
mentioned by Ravindra Bhai.
D1 Oils losses widen
http://www.sharecast.com/cgi-bin/sharecast/story.cgi?story_id=546584

Pankaj Oudhia

--- In jatropha@..., Ravinder Singh
<povertyfree77@y...> wrote:
>
> Salt Of Cargill & Jatropha Of D1 Oils.
>
>
>
> Thank you KD for this important news. A loss making company is
being promoted by Indian government. India is the only country in the
world promoting poisonous Jatropha on industrial scale so rich in
India and rich nations may fuel their cars.
>
>
>
> India has sold out 5 million hectares of land for about Rs. 30,000
per acre, the cost of initial investment to plant Jatropha in mostly
southern states.
>
>
>
> On going through company's own website I found India is the only
country to have let its cultivated turn in to Jatropha poisonous
fields.
>
> But the most amusing of the folders inform that India is "Having
once suffered famines and chronic food shortages, India is now a net
exporter of agricultural products. This turnaround is in part due to
the abilities and expertise of Indian agronomists, who are now
turning their attention to biofuel crops, particularly jatropha."
Actually food production per capita has declined and india imports 5
million tonnes of vegetable oil. INSTEAD OF INDIGENOUS PRODUCTION
THAN IMPORTS OF VEGETABLE OILS, OUR LEADERS WANT US TO GROW JATROPHA.
THEY ALWAYS SHAME US.
>
> Another page refers to widespread poverty –" India's economy is
diverse and complex. Despite having some of the world's leading
technology services, more than 70% of India's one billion people are
dependent on agriculture. Farming contributes 25% of India's GDP.
Rural poverty and unemployment are widespread; the need for
sustainable agricultural development remains great."
>
>  Cargill wanted to acquire 1 million hectares of land in Kutch but
people of India threw it out. Now D1 Oils is offered 5 million
hectares almost free for Jatropha cultivation.
>
> People of our nation are smart and shall soon throw out D1 Oils
Plc. Let me remind you, Cargill who wanted to acquire 1 million
hectares was thrown out.
>
> Ravinder Singh
>
>
>
> http://www.d1plc.com/global/india_vision.php
> D1 Oils India - Vision
> India is the centre of D1's most ambitious jatropha planting
program. Our Indian joint venture, D1 Mohan Bio Oils, aims to plant
100,000 hectares of land with jatropha in 2005, and has set a target
of 5 million hectares to be planted over the next five years. If our
Indian operations achieve their full potential, we will have made a
significant step to establishing D1 as one of the leading businesses
in planting and refining biodiesel in Asia. We expect that our
operations will be able to meet a major portion of India's demand for
biodiesel. Our first refinery should be producing biodiesel in
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, by 2006.
>
> India already has a lead in the research and development of
jatropha biodiesel feedstock. Our aim is to become the world's leader
in the agronomy of biofuels: improving the characteristics of
jatropha, refining propagation and planting techniques, and
maximising production of its byproducts.
>
> India's economy is diverse and complex. Despite having some of the
world's leading technology services, more than 70% of India's one
billion people are dependent on agriculture. Farming contributes 25%
of India's GDP. Rural poverty and unemployment are widespread; the
need for sustainable agricultural development remains great.
>
> Our business will gainfully use millions of hectares of waste or
marginal land across India and help alleviate rural poverty by
generating thousands of rural jobs and offering farmers an additional
source of income. The 100,000 hectares we plan to plant in India this
year could generate up to 50,000 jobs in rural communities. We
estimate that our five year planting programme could generate over a
billion man days of employment.
>
> http://www.d1plc.com/global/india_sci.php
> The Science of Jatropha
> Having once suffered famines and chronic food shortages, India is
now a net exporter of agricultural products. This turnaround is in
part due to the abilities and expertise of Indian agronomists, who
are now turning their attention to biofuel crops, particularly
jatropha.
>
> Since jatropha was introduced into India over 500 years ago by
Portuguese sailors, hundreds of sub-species have developed through
cross-fertislisation and adaptation to the subcontinent's very varied
climatic conditions. As a result, jatropha oil yields and growing
characteristics vary from region to region.
>
> D1 is researching the qualities and characteristics of jatropha
varieties that flourish in different locations. D1 will select and
propagate strains of jatropha that produce the best quality seeds and
the highest oil yields under different climatic conditions. D1 is
currently exploring micropropagation techniques for mass production
of seedlings with the necessary characteristics for each planting
area.
>
>
>
> http://www.d1plc.com/energy/europe.php
>
> http://www.d1plc.com/pdf/annual_report.pdf
>
>
>
> September 23, 2005
>
> Dear Shri. Ravinder Singhji,
>
> Kindly refer to the following article that has appeared in The
Economic Times
>
> http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1240294.cms
>
> Jatropha biofuel refinery in Chennai
>
> PTI [FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2005 12:57:26 PM]
>
> COIMBATORE: The UK-Based D1 Oils Plc would commission its first
refinery for producing biodiesel from Jatropha in Chennai early next
year, a senior company executive has said.
>
> D1 Oils, which has formed a joint venture with Mohan Breweries and
distilleries, would produce 8,000 tonnes of oil in the initial year.
It has taken up large scale jatropha cultivation in Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh, Philip Wood, Chief Executive Officer
of D1 oils, said.
>
> Briefing reporters on the deliberations on the first International
conference on Jatropha in the city, Wood told reporters here last
night, that the company proposed to cultivate jatropha in five
million hectare of land and produce 2.7 tonnes oil per hectare by
five years.
>
> Considered to be the fuel of future, this biofuel has tremendous
potential across the World, particularly developing countries like
India, Wood said adding that it was also proposed to engage good
number of growers in contract farming.
>
> The 3-day conference, attended by more than 25 renowned experts
from South East Asia, Africa, the US and Europe, besides academic
staff from leading Indian institutions, discussed a five-year
programme of supporting and developing the Jatropha crop to supply
for the manufacture of bio-diesel, he said.
>
> The discussions and ideas generated at the conference would support
the development of Indian bio-diesel industry providing rural
employment and energy security, Wood said.
>
>
>
>
>
> http://www.d1plc.com/energy/europe.php
>
> http://www.d1plc.com/pdf/annual_report.pdf
>
>
> Biodiesel in Europe – Targets Will Drive Demand
> Biodiesel is Europe's dominant alternative fuel. As part of a range
of measures drawn up in response to international agreements to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the EU is encouraging greater use of
biofuels. Under the 2003 EU Biofuels Directive, a 2% share of the
energy content of all petrol and diesel for transport must come from
renewable sources, including both biodiesel and bioethanol. This must
rise to 5.75% by the end of 2010.
>
> Tax exemptions and national targets are driving demand across the
EU. France and Germany are actively introducing forecourt blends. All
diesel sold in France is already blended with 2% biodiesel. The
reduction in UK duty on biodiesel by 20 pence per litre in April 2002
is also encouraging investment.
>
> Europe has dominated the biodiesel industry to date with 90% of
global production, but escalating demand is outpacing supply. The
Directive will create a demand of at least 9.2 million tonnes of
biodiesel per year by 2010. However, current refining capacity is
only 2.2 million tonnes per year.
>
> Rapeseed oil continues to be the dominant feedstock in Europe,
supplying 80% of total biodiesel requirements. Reaching EU targets
will require the allocation of more agricultural land to rapeseed
production. It has been argued that sufficient land will be available
for increased planting under the EU set-aside program. Yet this may
not be realistic, as the land is often located in areas unsuitable
for production, and much of it has designated environmental value.
>
> Rapeseed is a relatively expensive crop to grow. It is so intensive
it requires frequent rotation and extensive use of expensive fossil-
fuel fertilisers (over which there are also environmental concerns).
Moreover, it is currently grown under a complex subsidy regime. If
set-aside land is not available, rapeseed will have to compete with
food crops for scarce arable land and the resulting biodiesel may be
too expensive without subsidy. Although it will remain a key
feedstock, the extent to which rapeseed can meet Europe's growing
demand is open to question.
>
> D1 believes that the national targets for biofuels cannot be
efficiently met from EU domestic rape oil production. We are
promoting alternative solutions using oil-bearing energy crops that
grow in the developing world, primarily jatropha.
>  Biodiesel in the Americas
> Ethanol has dominated the alternative fuels market in North and
South America, but production of biodiesel is growing.
>
> USA
> Biodiesel production is now at record levels due to recent tax
incentives. Approximately 20 million gallons of biodiesel were
produced in 2004, compared to 200,000 gallons produced in 1999.
Biodiesel is on sale at over 300 retail filling stations, and is also
used by over 500 major fleets.
>
> Canada
> Federal excise taxes on biodiesel have been reduced, and a 10%
renewable fuel mandate split between ethanol and biodiesel is under
consideration by provincial governments.
>
> Brazil
> Brazil has built a leading position in ethanol production, and now
aims to become a biodiesel powerhouse. The government's National
Biodiesel Programme to promote the mass production, distribution and
marketing of biodiesel has mandated a 2% biodiesel blend by 2008,
rising to 5% by 2013.
> India – Potential for Lead in Production of Biodiesel
> India is a key location for D1. We have established jatropha
planting and refining operations in what we believe will be one of
the world's most exciting biodiesel markets. We also intend to make
India a centre of excellence for the science of jatropha production
that will support D1's operations in Africa and Asia Pacific.
>
> India has growing energy and transport fuel needs and its domestic
mineral oil production is not sufficient to meet rapidly increasing
demand. However, the Indian government has one of the most developed
biodiesel promotion programmes in the world, with jatropha feedstock
playing a major role.
>
> Since its introduction by Portuguese traders in the 16th century,
jatropha has been grown in India as a medicinal plant and hedge crop.
Hundreds of species of jatropha now thrive in India's varied regional
climates, and Indian agronomists are already experienced in the
science of jatropha cultivation. India has the potential to become
not only a major consumer of biodiesel, but also one of the world's
leading producers.
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Yahoo! for Good
>  Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

From Chhattisgarh net yahoo group.

Thank You Ms.Madhu for your 'enlightening' inputs on Jatropha and its
more competent contender- Pongamia (Karanj).

I've been recording farmers' and rural people's expectations and
opinions on the large-scale promotion of Ratanjyot (Jatropha) and
believe me, they have similar apprehensions and fears on the issue as
you & I have..( though they are not very aware of the prospects of
Karanj as a supplement to Jatropha).

These issues need to be taken up on a larger forum, since this is
being promoted from a larger platform too (i.e. the President, the
PM, the Planning Commission).

To talk of Chhatisgarh, the CM, the State Minister of Panchayat & RD,
the State Planning Commission, all are on the same track of promoting
Jatropha plantations on a large scale.

International organisations like Winrock are already on the move,
vowing to provide electricity and water to villages who take it up.
The CM has even envisioned a large plant for biodiesel production in
his native district (as far as i know).

Representatives of the State Planning Commission are making rounds of
visits to see the prospects of the plantation, etc. For the year 2006-
'07, there are plans to promote plantation of 1,00,000 saplings of
Jatropha in each district, and more in the forthcoming years. The
nurseries for the same are also being made ready to meet the so-
called rising 'demand'.

On the other hand, villagers have already begun planting the trees on
their field bunds in the hope of getting some additional income to
their meagre earnings.

In such a scenario, there is a need to bring to the view of all
our 'planners' , the true picture.. the pros & cons of their 'dream
project' in a  much more pronounced manner.

I'd like to know in what way we can do so, so as to be heard, and at
least let them reconsider their plans. The time is high to make such
efforts, because, later, it would be too late.. and the future of our
poor farmers  and the ecology will be in dark.

Thanks for giving it a read.

Constructive suggestions and responses are welcome.

~Neha~

You can try this website also
http://trifed.nic.in/productdetails.asp?productid=205&id=prod

It will be better to visit forest department of your region instead
of expecting their reply through e-mail. In our country such
departments are still far from modern communication facilities.

ALL THE BEST.
Pankaj Oudhia

--- In jatropha@..., Prathamesh Deshpande
<dprathamesh@y...> wrote:
> Dear Sir,
>
> SVO seems to be a really good and abundantly available everywhere,
but I feel that in India it is not a good proposition. thats because
in India many big consumers like 5 stars hotels or fast food corners
sell their used VO to the second grade hotels and they inturn sell it
to the people selling food on roads.
>
> This in turn reduces the quality of VO below the standard level.
>
> Hence the conventional seeds are good to begin with.
>

Brazil seems to be doing crazy things with food - burning coffee-seeds in steam engines and now running cars on cane juice!

 

But we need to take a broader lesson.

• Every area in our country has a local vegetable-oil / fuel-wood plant, sometimes a variety; otherwise a fuel like dung or dry twigs, leaves, etc. The production of these 'indigenous fuels needs to be studied for developing and upscaling to meet local needs. This can be done by taking even part of a taluka as a basic unit. State Nodal Agencies and Forest Devp Corpns can help here too.
• It was found by research earlier that land holdings of 20 acres (or hectares?) and up can become self-sufficient in energy by reserving as litle as 3% for energy needs.
• Successful technologies are already available - from gobar-gas plants, to SVO (straight veg oil) for diesel replacement like Ponghum in India and sunflower oil as used in Philipines, to WVO (waste replacement oils) for diesel supplement, to catalysts like SUJWALA, to combustive gasifiers like ANKUR and digestive gasifiers like NISARGARUNA. Appropriate solutions can be locally selected.
• Biotechnologies for breeding and reproduction of desirable plants are a sunrise sector, e.g. tissue-culture.
• A proper policy should look at the big picture in both ways - part to whole as well as whole to part; thus local availabilities can be dovetailed with regional/national energy needs.
• Food being most critical, this sector needs priority - the hearth above the car or tractor.
• Focus brings economic feasibility as well as effective solutions. So one can begin with the lamp for scale-up and innovation, move on to the hearth or chulha once reliability is established, then further move on to irrigation pumps, agricultural machines like irrigation pumps and crop threshers, crushers and only then venture into the big-ticket sector of transport, beginning with tillers & tractors.

udit

On 9/26/05, Ravinder Singh <povertyfree77@...> wrote:

Friends, 

This Economist article about bio-fuels use in USA, Brazil and EU illustrates how different countries adopt different crops for bio-fuel conversion.

 

Brazil is best and most successful bio-fuel producer where bio fuel derived from sugarcane cost a fraction of fossil fuels. USA uses soya and corn oils as well as spent cooking oil, which largely comes from soya and corn and EU uses canola, which is similar to mustard oil.

 

Sugarcane yield range 60T to 100T per hectare to just 2T to5T for Jatropha seeds in un-irrigated and irrigated conditions.

 

But none even mentions of poisonous Jatropha.

Ravinder

 

A TANKFUL OF SUGAR

 

Sep 22nd 2005  [The Economist Article]

 

Has Brazil found the answer to high petrol prices?

 

WHILE motorists elsewhere fret about high fuel prices, new-car buyers in Brazil can feel smug. They can fill up with petrol, ethanol (alcohol) or any combination of the two. And right now, ethanol is up to 55% cheaper at the pump in Brazil than regular gasoline.

 

Brazilians are the beneficiaries of an automotive revolution: "flex-fuel" cars that run as readily on ethanol as on regular petrol were introduced in 2003, and have since grabbed nearly two-thirds of the market. In America some 4.5m vehicles can run on blends of up to 85% ethanol, but that fuel is available only in Minnesota. In Brazil ethanol is everywhere, thanks to a 30-year-old policy of promoting fuel derived from home-grown sugar cane.

 

Eager for energy independence or lower emissions of greenhouse gases, other countries are now starting to promote "bio-fuels". But America and Europe favour their own farmers, who produce fuel based on corn or rape-seed that is mainly used as an additive to conventional petrol--and is dirtier and more expensive than Brazil's sugar-based ethanol. So bio-fuelled cars may take years to catch on in other markets.

 

For Brazil, this is a second try at a failed romance. Prompted by the oil shocks of the 1970s, Brazilian governments used laws and subsidies to promote ethanol-only cars, which had 90% of the market by the late 1980s. But supplies of sugar-based fuel dried up suddenly when planters rushed to meet a surge in demand for sugar. Sales of ethanol-powered cars dropped to nearly zero by 1990--one taxi driver famously set his alight outside Congress.

 

Flex-fuel cars have persuaded Brazilians to give ethanol a second try. The initiative came from the Brazilian operations of parts suppliers such as Magneti Marelli, owned by Fiat of Italy, and Bosch, a German company. They persuaded the government to extend to flex-fuel cars the tax break previously applied to ethanol-only models. Volkswagen was first to the market, followed quickly by other big manufacturers.

 

The Brazilian car industry as a whole is struggling. Might exports of flex-fuel cars prove its salvation? Probably not, alas. If the cars become popular outside Brazil, they could easily be made elsewhere.

 

Brazilian parts suppliers are more likely to benefit than carmakers. Bosch has sold fuel-supply systems for America's fleet of superfluous flex-fuel cars. Magneti Marelli would probably start by exporting components, but with higher volumes would move towards selling the technology. Brazil's biggest opportunity may be to sell fuel rather than flexibility. Its cost of sugar production is so low that ethanol can compete with petrol even with oil prices at $35 a barrel, about half of today's price.

 

 

 

---

Yahoo! for Good
Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

---

Yahoo! Groups Links

• To visit your group on the web, go to:
  http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/jatropha/
   
• To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
  jatropha-unsubscribe@...
   
• Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Really it's nice to read.
Thanks Udit.

Alok 


On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 Udit Chaudhuri wrote :
>Brazil seems to be doing crazy things with food - burning coffee-seeds in
>steam engines and now running cars on cane juice!
>  But we need to take a broader lesson.
>
>    - Every area in our country has a local vegetable-oil / fuel-wood
>    plant, sometimes a variety; otherwise a fuel like dung or dry twigs, leaves,
>    etc. The production of these 'indigenous fuels needs to be studied for
>    developing and upscaling to meet local needs. This can be done by taking
>    even part of a taluka as a basic unit. State Nodal Agencies and Forest Devp
>    Corpns can help here too.
>    - It was found by research earlier that land holdings of 20 acres (or
>    hectares?) and up can become self-sufficient in energy by reserving as litle
>    as 3% for energy needs.
>    - Successful technologies are already available - from gobar-gas
>    plants, to SVO (straight veg oil) for diesel replacement like Ponghum in
>    India and sunflower oil as used in Philipines, to WVO (waste replacement
>    oils) for diesel supplement, to catalysts like SUJWALA, to combustive
>    gasifiers like ANKUR and digestive gasifiers like NISARGARUNA. Appropriate
>    solutions can be locally selected.
>    - Biotechnologies for breeding and reproduction of desirable plants
>    are a sunrise sector, e.g. tissue-culture.
>    - A proper policy should look at the big picture in both ways - part
>    to whole as well as whole to part; thus local availabilities can be
>    dovetailed with regional/national energy needs.
>    - Food being most critical, this sector needs priority - the hearth
>    above the car or tractor.
>    - Focus brings economic feasibility as well as effective solutions. So
>    one can begin with the lamp for scale-up and innovation, move on to the
>    hearth or chulha once reliability is established, then further move on to
>    irrigation pumps, agricultural machines like irrigation pumps and crop
>    threshers, crushers and only then venture into the big-ticket sector of
>    transport, beginning with tillers & tractors.
>
>udit
>
>On 9/26/05, Ravinder Singh <povertyfree77@...> wrote:
>
> > Friends,
> >
> > This Economist article about bio-fuels use in USA, Brazil and EU
> > illustrates how different countries adopt different crops for bio-fuel
> > conversion.
> >
> >  Brazil is best and most successful bio-fuel producer where bio fuel
> > derived from sugarcane cost a fraction of fossil fuels. USA uses soya and
> > corn oils as well as spent cooking oil, which largely comes from soya and
> > corn and EU uses canola, which is similar to mustard oil.
> >
> >  Sugarcane yield range 60T to 100T per hectare to just 2T to5T for
> > Jatropha seeds in un-irrigated and irrigated conditions.
> >
> >  But none even mentions of poisonous Jatropha.
> >
> > Ravinder
> >
> >  *A TANKFUL OF SUGAR*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > Sep 22nd 2005 [The Economist Article]
> >
> >  Has Brazil found the answer to high petrol prices?
> >
> >  WHILE motorists elsewhere fret about high fuel prices, new-car buyers in
> > Brazil can feel smug. They can fill up with petrol, ethanol (alcohol) or any
> > combination of the two. And right now, ethanol is up to 55% cheaper at the
> > pump in Brazil than regular gasoline.
> >
> >  Brazilians are the beneficiaries of an automotive revolution: "flex-fuel"
> > cars that run as readily on ethanol as on regular petrol were introduced in
> > 2003, and have since grabbed nearly two-thirds of the market. In America
> > some 4.5m vehicles can run on blends of up to 85% ethanol, but that fuel
> > is available only in Minnesota. In Brazil ethanol is everywhere, thanks to a
> > 30-year-old policy of promoting fuel derived from home-grown sugar cane.
> >
> >  Eager for energy independence or lower emissions of greenhouse gases,
> > other countries are now starting to promote "bio-fuels". But America and
> > Europe favour their own farmers, who produce fuel based on corn or rape-seed
> > that is mainly used as an additive to conventional petrol--and is dirtier
> > and more expensive than Brazil's sugar-based ethanol. So bio-fuelled cars
> > may take years to catch on in other markets.
> >
> >  For Brazil, this is a second try at a failed romance. Prompted by the oil
> > shocks of the 1970s, Brazilian governments used laws and subsidies to
> > promote ethanol-only cars, which had 90% of the market by the late 1980s.
> > But supplies of sugar-based fuel dried up suddenly when planters rushed to
> > meet a surge in demand for sugar. Sales of ethanol-powered cars dropped to
> > nearly zero by 1990--one taxi driver famously set his alight outside
> > Congress.
> >
> >  Flex-fuel cars have persuaded Brazilians to give ethanol a second try.
> > The initiative came from the Brazilian operations of parts suppliers such as
> > Magneti Marelli, owned by Fiat of Italy, and Bosch, a German company. They
> > persuaded the government to extend to flex-fuel cars the tax break
> > previously applied to ethanol-only models. Volkswagen was first to the
> > market, followed quickly by other big manufacturers.
> >
> >  The Brazilian car industry as a whole is struggling. Might exports of
> > flex-fuel cars prove its salvation? Probably not, alas. If the cars become
> > popular outside Brazil, they could easily be made elsewhere.
> >
> >  Brazilian parts suppliers are more likely to benefit than carmakers.
> > Bosch has sold fuel-supply systems for America's fleet of superfluous
> > flex-fuel cars. Magneti Marelli would probably start by exporting
> > components, but with higher volumes would move towards selling the
> > technology. Brazil's biggest opportunity may be to sell fuel rather than
> > flexibility. Its cost of sugar production is so low that ethanol can compete
> > with petrol even with oil prices at $35 a barrel, about half of today's
> > price.
> >
> >    ------------------------------
> > Yahoo! for Good
> > Click here to donate <http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/> to the
> > Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
> > ------------------------------
> > *Yahoo! Groups Links*
> >
> >    - To visit your group on the web, go to:
> >    http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/jatropha/
> >    - To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >    jatropha-unsubscribe@...<jatropha-unsubscribe@...?subject=Unsubscribe>
> >    - Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> >    Service <http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
> >
> >

• Every area in our country has a local vegetable-oil / fuel-wood plant, sometimes a variety; otherwise a fuel like dung or dry twigs, leaves, etc. The production of these 'indigenous fuels needs to be studied for developing and upscaling to meet local needs. This can be done by taking even part of a taluka as a basic unit. State Nodal Agencies and Forest Devp Corpns can help here too.
• It was found by research earlier that land holdings of 20 acres (or hectares?) and up can become self-sufficient in energy by reserving as litle as 3% for energy needs.
• Successful technologies are already available - from gobar-gas plants, to SVO (straight veg oil) for diesel replacement like Ponghum in India and sunflower oil as used in Philipines, to WVO (waste replacement oils) for diesel supplement, to catalysts like SUJWALA, to combustive gasifiers like ANKUR and digestive gasifiers like NISARGARUNA. Appropriate solutions can be locally selected.
• Biotechnologies for breeding and reproduction of desirable plants are a sunrise sector, e.g. tissue-culture.
• A proper policy should look at the big picture in both ways - part to whole as well as whole to part; thus local availabilities can be dovetailed with regional/national energy needs.
• Food being most critical, this sector needs priority - the hearth above the car or tractor.
• Focus brings economic feasibility as well as effective solutions. So one can begin with the lamp for scale-up and innovation, move on to the hearth or chulha once reliability is established, then further move on to irrigation pumps, agricultural machines like irrigation pumps and crop threshers, crushers and only then venture into the big-ticket sector of transport, beginning with tillers & tractors.

udit

Friends, 

This Economist article about bio-fuels use in USA, Brazil and EU illustrates how different countries adopt different crops for bio-fuel conversion.

 

Brazil is best and most successful bio-fuel producer where bio fuel derived from sugarcane cost a fraction of fossil fuels. USA uses soya and corn oils as well as spent cooking oil, which largely comes from soya and corn and EU uses canola, which is similar to mustard oil.

 

Sugarcane yield range 60T to 100T per hectare to just 2T to5T for Jatropha seeds in un-irrigated and irrigated conditions.

 

But none even mentions of poisonous Jatropha.

Ravinder

 

A TANKFUL OF SUGAR

 

Sep 22nd 2005  [The Economist Article]

 

Has Brazil found the answer to high petrol prices?

 

WHILE motorists elsewhere fret about high fuel prices, new-car buyers in Brazil can feel smug. They can fill up with petrol, ethanol (alcohol) or any combination of the two. And right now, ethanol is up to 55% cheaper at the pump in Brazil than regular gasoline.

 

Brazilians are the beneficiaries of an automotive revolution: "flex-fuel" cars that run as readily on ethanol as on regular petrol were introduced in 2003, and have since grabbed nearly two-thirds of the market. In America some 4.5m vehicles can run on blends of up to 85% ethanol, but that fuel is available only in Minnesota. In Brazil ethanol is everywhere, thanks to a 30-year-old policy of promoting fuel derived from home-grown sugar cane.

 

Eager for energy independence or lower emissions of greenhouse gases, other countries are now starting to promote "bio-fuels". But America and Europe favour their own farmers, who produce fuel based on corn or rape-seed that is mainly used as an additive to conventional petrol--and is dirtier and more expensive than Brazil's sugar-based ethanol. So bio-fuelled cars may take years to catch on in other markets.

 

For Brazil, this is a second try at a failed romance. Prompted by the oil shocks of the 1970s, Brazilian governments used laws and subsidies to promote ethanol-only cars, which had 90% of the market by the late 1980s. But supplies of sugar-based fuel dried up suddenly when planters rushed to meet a surge in demand for sugar. Sales of ethanol-powered cars dropped to nearly zero by 1990--one taxi driver famously set his alight outside Congress.

 

Flex-fuel cars have persuaded Brazilians to give ethanol a second try. The initiative came from the Brazilian operations of parts suppliers such as Magneti Marelli, owned by Fiat of Italy, and Bosch, a German company. They persuaded the government to extend to flex-fuel cars the tax break previously applied to ethanol-only models. Volkswagen was first to the market, followed quickly by other big manufacturers.

 

The Brazilian car industry as a whole is struggling. Might exports of flex-fuel cars prove its salvation? Probably not, alas. If the cars become popular outside Brazil, they could easily be made elsewhere.

 

Brazilian parts suppliers are more likely to benefit than carmakers. Bosch has sold fuel-supply systems for America's fleet of superfluous flex-fuel cars. Magneti Marelli would probably start by exporting components, but with higher volumes would move towards selling the technology. Brazil's biggest opportunity may be to sell fuel rather than flexibility. Its cost of sugar production is so low that ethanol can compete with petrol even with oil prices at $35 a barrel, about half of today's price.

 

 

 

---

Yahoo! for Good
Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

---

Yahoo! Groups Links

• To visit your group on the web, go to:
  http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/jatropha/
   
• To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
  jatropha-unsubscribe@...
   
• Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Question raised at http://www.forumromanum.de/member/forum/forum.php?
action=std_show&entryid=1092533801&USER=user_25979&threadid=2

on this important aspect.
-------------------------------

Cyanide in exhaust gases


  by Richard on 15 Sep. 2005 16:33

Hello,

Could anyone provide me with information as to the residual cyanide
concentration in Jatropha-derived biodiesel or exhaust gases.

Cyanide protects the shrub as a natural pesticide - but
concentrations of just 1 ppm in the exhaust are potentially lethal.

Thanks

Richard
----------------------------

For responses on this important discussion please visit at
http://www.irsuggestions.org/asplistthread1.asp?Id=126514



Pankaj Oudhia

For new members

Who Will Protect Our Children from Ratanjot (Jatropha) Poisoning?
http://www.humanscape.org/Contribute/ratan.php



regards
Pankaj Oudhia

Dear Group Members,

           Important articles and world literature on Jatropha
toxicity are available for the members at

http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/jatropha/files/


Moderator

Thank you for your message. For all details regarding Karanj you can
make direct contact with Indian scientist Dr. Shrinivasa and his team.

http://www.goodnewsindia.com/Pages/content/discovery/honge.html

Dr.U.Shrinivasa, N.Viswanath or Suparna Diwakar

SuTRA [Sustainable Transformation of Rural Areas]

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Indian Institute of Science

Bangalore 560 012

Karnataka

fax: 91-080-360 2435/360 2993

tel: 91-080-360 0080/309 2331

email: udipi@... / udipi@...

----------------

Karanj is available naturally in Maharashtra. You will find the names
of many villges based on this tree like Karanja,Karanj Gaon etc. It
indicates the natural presence of Karanj in such regions.
Interestingly one of my friends is having surname Karanjgaonkar. I
suggest you to contact at local forest department for more
information.

=====================
It is also good site
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Pongamia_pinnata.html


ALL THE BEST.
Pankaj Oudhia



--- In jatropha@..., Prathamesh Deshpande
<dprathamesh@y...> wrote:
> Dear Sir,
>
> What will be the % extraction of oil from the seeds of Karanj
(Poongamia)? Jatropha has a % extraction of only 25-30 from the seeds.
>
> Also could someone tell me the sources of Karanj in Maharashtra if
any, as the mail mentioned below does not have Maharashtra in its
list of Karanj producers.
>
> Also can Karanj oil be directly blended with Diesel or should it
necessarily be have to processed to produce bio diesel?
>
> Regards
>
> Prathamesh Deshpande
>
> Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@i...> wrote:
> From chhattisgarh-net yahoo group.
>
> `Pongam oil' gaining acceptance as biofuel
>       Correspondent : R. Balaji
>       Chennai , Sept. 22
>       GUDIYATTAM, in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, could evolve
> into a hub for biofuel production, particularly pongam oil, which
is
> recognised as one of the oils ideal for blending with diesel.
>
>       Oil mills here have traditionally been extracting pongam oil
> from pongamia seeds to cater to the leather industry's demand.
Also,
> soap makers and lubricants manufacturers use this oil.
>
>       But with the recent interest in biofuels with the Centre and
> State Governments encouraging alternatives to fossil fuels, the oil
> mills find a new range of customers.
>
>       The Karnataka Government, which is experimenting with diesel
> blended with biofuels including pongamia oil, has sourced pongamia
> oils from these mills.
>
>       According to Mr A.A. Venugopal Chettiar, Proprietor,
> Bhuvaneshwari Oil Mills, though pongamia has not caught the fancy
of
> the Tamil Nadu Government, it has taken off in a big way in
> Karnataka, where the transport department has operated buses on a
> diesel blended with 30 per cent pongamia.
>
>       The Government purchases about 400 tonnes of oil a year at
> about Rs 25-30 a litre.
>
>       The Andhra Pradesh Government is also exploring the
> possibilities and enquiries are on the increase. In Tamil Nadu,
over
> 2,000 tonnes of pongam oil are produced annually, most of them in
> Gudiyattam, he said.
>
>       But with the local production of seeds yet to be organised,
the
> mills here could stand to lose if biofuel production picks up a in
a
> big way. Once the demand for pongam oil as a biofuel is
established,
> oil mills in other States would set up facilities and seed supply
to
> Tamil Nadu could be hit, he felt.
>
>       The major sources of pongamia seeds areKarnataka, Andhra
> Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. In Punjab, over 10,000
> trees are available but without the labour to pick the seeds.
>
>       Only about 50 per cent of the seeds are available to the oil
> mills while the rest are wasted. The reason: the seed is low cost
and
> the wage cost for picking them is too high. The daily wage labourer
> has now options that give him about Rs 100 a day but the job of
> picking pongam seeds pays about Rs 30 - 40 since the seeds cost
about
> Rs 6 - 7 a kg. This year, prices have picked up and they range
around
> Rs 10 a kg.
>
>       According to Mr G.K. Nagaraj of Jayabharath Oil Mills, pongam
> is available in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts in Tamil Nadu.
> Though he is yet to start supplying the oil as biofuel there have
> been enquiries. In Gudiyattam, the major production centre in Tamil
> Nadu, the mills process about 4,000 bags (80 kg each) a month.
>
>       According to scientists, the area of pongamia in Tamil Nadu
> must be assessed and the potential exploited. Pongamia was
> traditionally grown in paddy fields because their leaves are used
as
> green manure and the trees fix nitrogen in the soil.
>
>
>
>       SOURCE : The Hindu Business Line, Friday, September 23, 2005
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>    To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/jatropha/
>
>    To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> jatropha-unsubscribe@...
>
>    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service.
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com

From chhattisgarh-net yahoo group.

`Pongam oil' gaining acceptance as biofuel 
      Correspondent : R. Balaji 
      Chennai , Sept. 22
      GUDIYATTAM, in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, could evolve
into a hub for biofuel production, particularly pongam oil, which is
recognised as one of the oils ideal for blending with diesel.

      Oil mills here have traditionally been extracting pongam oil
from pongamia seeds to cater to the leather industry's demand. Also,
soap makers and lubricants manufacturers use this oil.

      But with the recent interest in biofuels with the Centre and
State Governments encouraging alternatives to fossil fuels, the oil
mills find a new range of customers.

      The Karnataka Government, which is experimenting with diesel
blended with biofuels including pongamia oil, has sourced pongamia
oils from these mills.

      According to Mr A.A. Venugopal Chettiar, Proprietor,
Bhuvaneshwari Oil Mills, though pongamia has not caught the fancy of
the Tamil Nadu Government, it has taken off in a big way in
Karnataka, where the transport department has operated buses on a
diesel blended with 30 per cent pongamia.

      The Government purchases about 400 tonnes of oil a year at
about Rs 25-30 a litre.

      The Andhra Pradesh Government is also exploring the
possibilities and enquiries are on the increase. In Tamil Nadu, over
2,000 tonnes of pongam oil are produced annually, most of them in
Gudiyattam, he said.

      But with the local production of seeds yet to be organised, the
mills here could stand to lose if biofuel production picks up a in a
big way. Once the demand for pongam oil as a biofuel is established,
oil mills in other States would set up facilities and seed supply to
Tamil Nadu could be hit, he felt.

      The major sources of pongamia seeds areKarnataka, Andhra
Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. In Punjab, over 10,000
trees are available but without the labour to pick the seeds.

      Only about 50 per cent of the seeds are available to the oil
mills while the rest are wasted. The reason: the seed is low cost and
the wage cost for picking them is too high. The daily wage labourer
has now options that give him about Rs 100 a day but the job of
picking pongam seeds pays about Rs 30 - 40 since the seeds cost about
Rs 6 - 7 a kg. This year, prices have picked up and they range around
Rs 10 a kg.

      According to Mr G.K. Nagaraj of Jayabharath Oil Mills, pongam
is available in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts in Tamil Nadu.
Though he is yet to start supplying the oil as biofuel there have
been enquiries. In Gudiyattam, the major production centre in Tamil
Nadu, the mills process about 4,000 bags (80 kg each) a month.

      According to scientists, the area of pongamia in Tamil Nadu
must be assessed and the potential exploited. Pongamia was
traditionally grown in paddy fields because their leaves are used as
green manure and the trees fix nitrogen in the soil.

    
       
      SOURCE : The Hindu Business Line, Friday, September 23, 2005

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Plannings of FEW , Problems for generations

Pankaj Oudhia

       http://botanicalboards.org/poudhia/viewtopic.php?
t=12&sid=d1d9772ea6151e233ef3f0ca1a4b0da4


A farmer of Pondsari village Shri Deen Dayal Verma still remembers those days
when the state Agricultural department introduced Ipomoea plant in Chhattisgarh
as useful plant.It was braught from foreign country and promoted as green manure
crop.Shri Verma informed that there was a big celebration at Raipur when the
authorities braught it in special truck from Bhopal.It was the time of mid
sixties.Every one was eager to touch this plant.The farmers purcahsed it and
started using it as green manure crop. Very soon they realised that they were
cheated and they threw away the socalled precious Ipomoea plants.Today Ipomoea
is present with us as problematic weed .Its omnipresence has given it a name
Beshram(Shameless).This introduced species is causing great damage to our
environment specieally to the ecosystem of waterlogged regions.Our farmers are
invsesting much to manage it as problematic weed.The big question is that
whether our planners were aware of its weedy status in other countries before
its introduction in our country or not? Whether any studies were conducted to
assess its impact on our ecosystem or not? Unfortuntaely no one is with us to
answer these questions.But the literatures of that time clearly indicates that
sufficient information was available at that time about the weedy status of
Ipomoea.

Centuries back Water Hyacinth was introduced in India as ornamental aquatic
plant.Today this herb ,locally known as Jal Kumbhi,is present every where and we
are investing crores for the eradication of this problematic weed.

There are several examples of such mistakes we have done earlier.The
introduction of Lantana,Eupatorium ,Eucalyptus etc. are some well known
examples.

Although we claim that we are progressive and not willing to repeat the mistakes
again.Is this true or a big lie? We are in process of introducing another
Foreign plant Jatropha in our motherland. We means not all the Indians but very
FEW technocrates .They are going to decide the future of our coming generations.

Jatropha is under promotion as Bio-diesel crop .In one Indian state Chhattisgarh
the authorities are planning to plant Jatropha in over 10 lakh hactares. I have
no objection regarding bio-diesel project.It is good project and need of the day
as our natural source of fossil fuel is decreasing. There are several plants
having potential to be used as bio-diesel plant. Most of it are indigenous
plants.These plants are present in our ecosystem since generations. I would like
to quote Dr.A.D.Karve, a botanist from Pune .He has developed bio-diesel from
sugarcane waste.The bio-diesel project from waste can be more useful as we will
get the raw material at cheaper cost.The promotion of Jatropha is leading to
large scale plantation .This monoculture will cause what type of damage to our
ecosystem ?The planners have no answer.Possibly they have never considered this
important aspect before planting this exotic plant.


Jatropha is a native to tropical America. In developed countries Jatropha is
known as problemtaic weed.The references literatures are full of information
regarding its weedy status. They have reasons to declare it as obnoxious weed.
While preparing a plant fact sheet on Jatropha with the leading scientists of
thirteen countries ,for the UK based research organisation,I got these facts.We
have prepared crop weed compendium in which Jatropha is present as prominent
weed.

Jatropha is harmful to humanbeings ,animals and also to other plants.The
research conducted in Thailand has revealed that Jatropha oil is having chemical
contents that can cause skin cancer. Later the researchers of other countries
have prooved it. In Chhattisgarh the large scale handling of this oil by the
villagers will cause great health problem because the state authorieites are
claiming that the villagers will have to establish processing plants by their
own in order to get real profits.

The natives of Chhattisgarh are aware that Jatropha is very poisonous plant.They
plant it as fence and keep it away from the access of little children. They use
it as folk medicine but with much care speically under the supervision of the
traditional healers. Its seeds are most poisonous and few seeds can take a life
of small child .Unfortunately the seeds are sweet in taste and children like it
very much.The incidences of Jatropha poisoning are very common in region .You
can imagine the chances of accidental feeding when we will have the plantation
in ten lakh hactares.Some experts say that its seeds are bitter in taste .I feel
there is a need to serve these seeds to such researchers for real confirmation.

Jatropha plants are known as Raja Van (King Plant) among the traditional healers
as it dominates in forests and are having negative impact on growth of small
herbs.These small herbs are used traditonally as medicine in Chhattisgarh.Now
this King plant is in promotion is all types of land.Be ready for mass scale
destruction of native flora.

The cattle do not feed on Jatropha but there are many incidences world wide
stating that during drought period the cattle accidentally feed on Jatropha like
plants and this feeding results in death of the cattle.In Chhattisgarh the years
of drought are very frquent.The natural pastures are decreasing and the trend of
open grazing ‘Charai’ is becoming popular.Large scale of Jatropha plantation
will pose serious theat on our cattle.


The technocrates claim that the arid condition of Chhattisgarh are suitable for
Jatropha cultivation.It seems that they are lacking practical experiences.Due to
heavy monsoon rains the process of seed setting is very poor in Chhattisgarh.You
will find vegetatively rich Jatropha plants in Chhattisgarh but it is very hard
to get seeds.Most of the pods remain empty.Jatropha may be good crop for
Rajashtan.


Jatropha is having many drawbacks.We are having many indigenous alternatives
like Karanj. Then the questions comes why it is under promotion in
Chhattisgarh.Who has taken this decision?Why this issue was not kept among the
common people for open discussion before such big planning. The technocatres
involved in this mission are not elected by the common people.

Many species of Jatropha are present in our forests ,although it has introduced
in recent past-as the traditional healers claim.An important qustion is that if
the authorities are having full confidence then why they donot use this natrual
population for making bio-diesel.This use will reduce the pressure on natural
herbs.The cost of seeds will be reduced and our tribal youth will get
employment.The interest of authoriites is to purchase the plants from FEW
suppliers for large scale plantations.

In this article the word FEW is coming very frequently.The govenrment is not
elected by FEW .Also it should not work for FEW. The authorities are under
influence of FEW.The project is for FEW.The advantages for natives are also very
FEW.Although the persons opposing this destructive plantation are also FEW but I
feel that the the support of common people in this mission will end this chapter
in (FEW )days.

(More research articles by Pankaj Oudhia are available on-line at
http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/poudhia_index.html )

From chhattisgarh-net yahoo group.

`Pongam oil' gaining acceptance as biofuel
       Correspondent : R. Balaji
       Chennai , Sept. 22
       GUDIYATTAM, in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, could evolve
into a hub for biofuel production, particularly pongam oil, which is
recognised as one of the oils ideal for blending with diesel.

       Oil mills here have traditionally been extracting pongam oil
from pongamia seeds to cater to the leather industry's demand. Also,
soap makers and lubricants manufacturers use this oil.

       But with the recent interest in biofuels with the Centre and
State Governments encouraging alternatives to fossil fuels, the oil
mills find a new range of customers.

       The Karnataka Government, which is experimenting with diesel
blended with biofuels including pongamia oil, has sourced pongamia
oils from these mills.

       According to Mr A.A. Venugopal Chettiar, Proprietor,
Bhuvaneshwari Oil Mills, though pongamia has not caught the fancy of
the Tamil Nadu Government, it has taken off in a big way in
Karnataka, where the transport department has operated buses on a
diesel blended with 30 per cent pongamia.

       The Government purchases about 400 tonnes of oil a year at
about Rs 25-30 a litre.

       The Andhra Pradesh Government is also exploring the
possibilities and enquiries are on the increase. In Tamil Nadu, over
2,000 tonnes of pongam oil are produced annually, most of them in
Gudiyattam, he said.

       But with the local production of seeds yet to be organised, the
mills here could stand to lose if biofuel production picks up a in a
big way. Once the demand for pongam oil as a biofuel is established,
oil mills in other States would set up facilities and seed supply to
Tamil Nadu could be hit, he felt.

       The major sources of pongamia seeds areKarnataka, Andhra
Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. In Punjab, over 10,000
trees are available but without the labour to pick the seeds.

       Only about 50 per cent of the seeds are available to the oil
mills while the rest are wasted. The reason: the seed is low cost and
the wage cost for picking them is too high. The daily wage labourer
has now options that give him about Rs 100 a day but the job of
picking pongam seeds pays about Rs 30 - 40 since the seeds cost about
Rs 6 - 7 a kg. This year, prices have picked up and they range around
Rs 10 a kg.

       According to Mr G.K. Nagaraj of Jayabharath Oil Mills, pongam
is available in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts in Tamil Nadu.
Though he is yet to start supplying the oil as biofuel there have
been enquiries. In Gudiyattam, the major production centre in Tamil
Nadu, the mills process about 4,000 bags (80 kg each) a month.

       According to scientists, the area of pongamia in Tamil Nadu
must be assessed and the potential exploited. Pongamia was
traditionally grown in paddy fields because their leaves are used as
green manure and the trees fix nitrogen in the soil.



       SOURCE : The Hindu Business Line, Friday, September 23, 2005

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

From chhattisgarh-net@yahoogroups.com mailing list.

Hi,
> My name is Deepak Rajagopal and I am pursuing PhD at University of
> California, Berkeley, USA focussing on Rural Electrification in
India.
> This summer (June 2005) I along with two other graduate students
conducted
> field research sponsored by the United Nations Industrial
Development
> Organization (UNIDO) on the potential of non-edible oils as a fuel
for
> rural electrification and transportation.
>
> Our overall recommendation is that such oils, no doubt, have a
vital role
> to play as alternative fuels in the years to come and we urge the
> government promote this sector through carefully designed and
sustainable
> policies. There are crucial environmental and socio-economic
benefits to
> using such fuels. But we identified several areas where little
research
> has been done and which are vital to the success of the government's
> vision. Here a few selected findings,
>
> 1. The government and industry seem to be focusing exclusively on
Jatropha
> for large scale plantation. Jatropha has its fair share of critics
and
> there is little evidence in government proposals addressing their
> concerns, which deserve attention. When compared with its closest
> competitor Pongamia (Karanj), Jatropha seems to have just the
benefit of
> beginning to yield in 3 years as opposed to 6 years. On other hand,
> Pongamia cake is more nitrogen rich and more valuable (this is
critical to
> the economics as I explain below), the tree has a longer life (50+
years
> as opposed to 25 years for Jatropha), greater carbon sequestration
> potential,  and not toxic like Jatropha. There are several
scientific
> studies that show Jatropha oil to contain toxic substances (phorbol
> esters) that are cancer-promoting, and also cause skin irriation,
> diarrhoea and gastro-intestinal inflammation in rats during
laboratory
> experiments. Castor is a quick yielding (90 day crop I was told)
crop,
> which could be used in the short-term. Finally, there are also
ecological
> issues around mono-cropping a new species on such a large scale
without
> sufficient experience. In summary, promote a diverse variety of
crops and
> address the toxicity and ecological issues of Jatropha
>
> 2. The cake remaining after oil extraction, looked upon merely as
> by-product, maybe economically as valuable as the oil. Assuming
that the
> seeds yield, 25% by weight as oil and 75% by weight cake, and that
at
> least in the case of Pongamia these cakes can sell at about a third
of the
> cost of nitrogen fertilizer on a per kg basis. Thus for every kg of
oil
> produced and expected to be sold at Rs.20/kg, the remaining three
kg of
> cake can fetch the same amount of revenue from sale of cake. Thus
if laws
> can be enacted requiring national fertilizer companies to procure
> bio-fertilizer which are more environment friendly than petroleum
based
> fertilizers, we could envision growing such oil crops just for the
purpose
> of bio-fertilizer. In such cases, Pongamia being a nitrogen fixing
tree
> may be more suitable than Jatropha. In summary, facilitate the
creation of
> a well functioning and stable market for cake as a bio-fertilizer
through
> policies and regulations.
>
> 3. Use of oil in virgin form i.e., Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) may
> provide the same benefits as biodiesel but at much lower costs (not
> requiring sophisticated trans-esterification and large refineries)
at low
> levels of blending with diesel. Trans-esterification requires
methanol,
> which is made from fossil fuels. Ethanol could be used but it is
supposed
> to result in lower yields. This should be investigated.
>
> 4. There are several instances across countries in which similar
> initiatives have failed. These have been because of misplaced
expectations
> and lack of crucial support to the farmers during the long
maturation
> phase of these crops. Either the government runs the whole operation
> itself by employing the farmers as mere wage labourers till
maturation or
> it has to provide enough incentives for the farmer to survive the
initial
> years during which there are no returns. The government could also
> facilitate partnerships between individual farmers and private
> entrepreneurs who could enter into various types of contracts and
> financial agreements.
>
> 5. There is little clear knowledge about optimal cropping patterns,
> irrigation and watering, fertilizer and pesticide requirements,
which are
> all supposed to be minimal. But we visited ICRISAT Hyderbad, a
premier
> research institute focusing on developing robust crops for semi-
arid areas
> and we were told there is no scientific basis for the claims above
claims.
> In summary, there is a need for increased scientific research,
perform
> education and outreach and also solicit input from rural
communities.
>
> 6. Need to develop institutions at the village level like
cooperative
> societies, which can help the farmers, negotiate effectively with
buyers
> of seeds.
>
> Thanks
> Regards
> Deepak.
>
>

Acute toxicity studies with Jatropha curcas L.

Abdu-Aguye I, Sannusi A, Alafiya-Tayo RA, Bhusnurmath SR.

The seeds of Jatropha curcas L. ingested accidentally by two children
aged 3 and 5 years led to a clinical syndrome of restlessness, severe
vomiting and dehydration. A systematic study of the seeds indicated
that they produced toxic effects in mice. Macroscopic anal haemorrhage
and death occurred when the seeds were administered with the feed. Post-
mortem examination revealed infarction of various parts of the
gastrointestinal tract with congested vessels. Sodium chloride solution
(150 mmol/l: saline) extract of the dried seed administered
intraperitoneally into mice caused death in doses as low as 1 mg/kg.
Post-mortem studies in this case showed widespread haemorrhages
involving the colon, lungs as well as infarction of the liver. Larger
intraperitoneal doses (greater than 30 mg/kg) were lethal rapidly but
not associated with gross gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3488257&dopt=Citation

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Dear Group Members,
      I am giving the details of interactions with world bank
authorities and Jatropha giant Dr. Reinhard Henning. It is really
surprising that they have supported and promoted Jatropha in Africa
without knowing much about it. They are not clear about its origin
even. They made comments but when asked for scientifc evidences they
failed to provide it. I am still waiting for their reply.

regards
Pankaj Oudhia
=====================

You might want to contact Reinhard Henning who has worked extensively
on the
subject.

Also see his website

www.jatropha.org

Reinhard has also written a note on Jatropha for our IK Notes series:

http://www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/iknt47.pdf
_________________________________________________________________
Reinhard Woytek
Senior Knowledge Management Officer
World Bank
Africa Region - Knowledge and Learning  (AFTKL)
MSN J8-811
1818 H Street,  NW
Washington, DC  20433

Tel:        1-202-473-1641
Fax:       1-202-614-1641
Email:     rwoytek@...
Room:    J8-005

Web Site:  Indigenous Knowledge for Development Program:
http://www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/default.htm




              pankaj
oudhia

<pankajoudhia@y

ahoo.com>
To
              Sent by:
Phytomedica@yahoogroups.com

Phytomedica@yah
cc

oogroups.com


Subject
                                      [Phytomedica] Jatropha and
Arica

08/20/2005

07:25












Dear Group members,

              The world literatures on Jatropha curcas indicate that
Jatropha is
under promotion in African countries since many decades. It is
planted
in large
areas for the production of biodiesel. I am eager to know the
performance of
this exotic crop in African soil. What is its impact on native flora
and fauna?
Whether the vehicles are running without diesel and using biodiesel
prepared rom
Jatropha seed oil ? In India the authorities are planning to plant
this
exotic
(it is native to Tropical America) plant in over 30 m. hactares. The
Arican
experience will be of great help for us.


regards
Pankaj Oudhia
==========================================
Reinhard.Henning@..." <Reinhard.Henning@...>

Dear Mr. Pankaj Oudhia

Thank you for your e-mail. I will try to write my opinion as short as
possible. I have to state, that I don't know the situation in India
well, either concerning Pongamia, nor Jatropha. So my opinion is
mainly
based on the experience in other countries.

I don't see a real difference between Jatropha curcas and Pongamia
pinnata. I learned that Pongamia has a higher yield of oil per hectar,
but it takes more time for full seed production.

Jatropha is an ideal plant for decentralized small scale production as
long as it is planted in the form of hedges (living fences) around
gardens and fields. In this case it protects food production against
roaming animals and against erosion, and gives farmers an additional
income by selling oil. The press cake, which is a very valuable
organic
fertilizer, can be returned to the plants to keep the fertility of the
soil. In this case I don't see any harm to biological diversity.

I don't know if Pongamia can be planted as a living fence, but if so,
I
don't see any difference between Jatropha and Pongamia.

In the case of plantations, Pongamia and Jatropha have the same
effect:
Large areas are planted with the same species. But this is the case
with
other cash crops as well, like coffee or tea.

I think these large scale plantations won't be realized, because you
need a lot of manual labour for harvesting/collection of the seeds,
and
this makes it expensive. For Jatropha you need at least 2 hours of
manual work to produce 1 litre of oil and you need about 1,5 persons
to
harvest/collect the seeds of 1 hectar. That means, you need about more
than 7 000 persons to harvest the seeds of a 5 000 ha plantation. This
has to be organized, and that is expensive.

I think for Pongmia this is also the case.

I don't think that Jatropha is an exotic plant to India. It is there
since a couple of centuries, and it is no weed, i. e. it does not
disseminate itself. It has to be planted by men.

As a conclusion, I don't see a significant difference between Jatropha
and Pongamia, if they are planted in large plantations. Both are cash
crops.

It seems that Jatropha has very positive effects on plant health, that
is it reduces the insecticidal pressure to other plants. So it is a
good
plant for intercropping. In Belize, South America, the use it for
intercropping with red pepper, and they produce very good quality
legumes without additional insecticides.

The only advantage I see in using the wood of Pongamia for burning,
becase the wood of Jatropha (an euphorbiaceae) is not very well
suitable
as firewood.

Kind regards

Reinhard Henning






-----Original Message-----
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2005 17:49:31 +0200
Subject: Re: [Phytomedica] Jatropha and Arica
From: pankaj oudhia
To: Rwoytek@...

Dear Dr.Henning,         I am India based researcher and working on
biodiversity aspects. In India we are opposing Jatropha promotion as
it is exotic plant and as Biodiesel lover promoting the native plants
like  Pongamia. To put all the negative information about this exotic
herb we have formed yahoo group SAY NO TO JATROPHA.
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/jatropha/ [1]   I am aware of its
medicinal uses and also documented its local uses but I am seeing the
large scale plantation of Jatropha as biodiversity disaster.    I am
eager to know your comments on the Jatropha monoculture in India in
over 30 million hactares.   regards Pankaj Oudhia
----------------------------------
Reinhard.Henning@..." <Reinhard.Henning@...> wrote

We talk about Jatropha curcas.

The plants which are looked at as a weed in Australia and South Africa
are Jatropha gossyfolia.

The potuguees seafarers distributed the plant. I went up to Nepal. I
don't know the time when they planted it first in India.

We did an epidemiological study on the effect of Jatropha oil on the
skin of womwn, who work since many years with Jatropha oil to produce
soap. There cound not be seen any skin diseases with these women.

If you can collect these Pongamia seeds and extract oil. it will be
fine.

But to produce such quantities of oil, that the Indian import of crude
fossil oil may be reduced, you may need plantations. Also with
Pongama.

Regards

Reinhard Henning






-----Original Message-----
Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 17:15:27 +0200
Subject: Re: [Phytomedica] Jatropha and Arica
From: pankaj oudhia
To: "Reinhard.Henning@..."

Thank you for your reply.   1. Jatropha is not native to India. It is
native to tropical America. Are you having any scientific evidences
that it is present in India since centuries? 2. In India millions of
Pongamia plants grow naturally and there is no need for its
cultivation. Pongamia is native to India. Another biodiesel source
Calotropis grows as weed. Hence it can be used as petrocrop.  3. Are
you having any scientific report that Jatropha oil is safe for
humanbeings. There are many scientific reports claiming that it
causes cancer. Are the fumes produced by it  are safe for human
lungs?   4. Jatropha is having well known properties of
invasiveness..I am pasting the response of American ecologist on mass
scale plantation of Jatropha weed.     I am eagery waiting for your
response.   regards Pankaj Oudhia   Planting 30 million hectares of
Jatropha curcas sounds like a
disaster waiting to take off!!!

With Australia describing it as invasive and Hawaii PIER ' s risk
assessment rejecting it; I hope this plant never crosses the ocean to
North America.

With a wide range of tolerances including frost and arid conditions,
could they actually confine it and guarantee no escape?

Unlikely

As someone who works with disturbance areas like roadsides, I truly
hope they reconsider. This plant has characteristics of invasives
that cost us greatly in parklands, farmlands, wetlands, woodlands,
and more. I suspect that economics will win; but we will all pay the
price eventually.

Sincerely, Bonnie Harper-Lore

Restoration Ecologist

Federal Highway Administration, USDOT
Bonnie.Harper-Lore@... [1]

IN REPLY TO

Pankaj Oudhia (http://www.pankajoudhia.com/ [2]) is seeking comment
from
the GISIN members regarding the promotion of Jatropha [Jatropha
curcas L.] as a biodiesel plant.

Hi,
As you know Jatropha is under promotion as a biodiesel plant. Alone
India is
in the process of planting Jatropha in over 30 million hectares. It
is under
promotion in other countries also. In many countries like Australia
Jatropha
holds a status of invasive. I am eager to know the comments of GISIN
members
regarding this monoculture. If this  plantation cause any impact on
native
biodiversity then we have to manage it like a weed. For this large
scale
plantation clearance from weed management and biodiversity experts is
needed.

regards
Pankaj Oudhia

Please respond directly to Pankaj < pankaj.oudhia@... [4]> with
your
comments.

Best regards, Liz

Elizabeth Sellers
Assistant Theme Coordinator
Invasive Species Information Node
National Biological  Information Infrastructure
USGS - National Program Office
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 302
Reston, VA 20192 USA
Ph 703.648.4385 | Fax 703.648.4224 | esellers@... [5]
USA

Invasive Species Information Node
National Biological Information Infrastructure
Global Invasive Species Information Network

==========================

Thanks for your message.

Many species of Jatropha have been declared as problematic weed in
different countries. Jatropha curcas is problematic weed in Australia
and Africa. I am giving the scientific evidence. Please go through
the crop protection compendium published by CABI.

Lucinda Charles
Editor
Compendium Programme
CAB International
Wallingford
Oxon OX10 8DE
UK
l.charles@...
tel: 44 1491 829388
fax: 44 1491 833508

Secondly, I am still waiting for the scientific evidence that
Jatropha is present in India and Africa since centuries. I am in
favor of native plants .Jatropha may be the good crop for South
America where it is native plant but for Africa and India there must
be the search and promotion of local plants.

You have written about the study done by your group. Is it available
in form of scientifc findings or report. Please forward it to me.

If you want to know the Bare facts of Jatropha toxicity,please visit
this website for scientific evidences.

http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/jcurc.htm

I am biodiesel lover but it must be from native plants not from
exotic plants like Jatropha.

regards
Pankaj Oudhia

=============
NO ANSWER FROM HIM. I AM STILL WAITING EAGERLY.

pankaj oudhia