30 children fall ill after eating Jatropha seeds.

Raipur, Sep 7 (IANS) At least 30 children fell ill in Chhattisgarh Monday after
they consumed seeds of the poisonous Jatropha plant, which is used to extract
bio-fuel, police said.

The incident was reported from Suloni village of Janjgir-Champa district, some
180 km from here.

“The children ate Jatropha seeds thinking it was some fruit and immediately
started vomitting,” Kaushalia Sahu of Malkharoda police station told IANS by
phone. All the children were below the age of 12.

The official said that all the children were taken to the primary health centre
in the village.

The condition of the children is stable and they are out of danger, she added.
[LM1]

http://www.sindhtoday.net/news/1/48135.htm

Will 'Energy Crops' Become the Next Kudzu?

U.S. policies are subsidizing new energy crops that are likely to spread off the
farm and wreak economic and ecological havoc, a federal advisory board cautioned
yesterday.

For years, researchers have worked to develop "advanced" biofuel feeds from
unconventional crops such as grasses and algae.

The goal is to enable a switch away from corn- and soy-based biofuel to
cellulosic energy crops that don't compete on the food or feed market and have a
smaller carbon footprint. A 2007 energy law, in fact, requires a total of 160
billion gallons of the plant-based cellulosic fuels by 2022 that these crops
would produce.

As a result, researchers are now selecting, breeding and engineering species
that demand less water, fertilizer and agricultural land and grow year-round at
high yields.

But it is often exactly these traits, such as drought tolerance or pathogen
resistance, that make the fuels of the future ripe to become invasive species
and cause widespread damage. The issue highlights another potential complication
in what has been a bumpy road in the development of the biofuels industry.

"Absent strategic mitigation efforts, there is substantial risk that some
biofuel crops will escape cultivation and cause socio-economic and/or ecological
harm," the white paper, adopted by the Invasive Species Advisory Committee,
warns.

The group of outside experts advises a federal council tasked with coordinating
invasive species policies among 13 departments and agencies. It called on the
U.S. government to take major steps to combat the substantial risks from
biofuels as it promotes and funds biofuels development.

Invasive species are already costly

Every year, invasive plants cost the United States a minimum of $34 billion in
losses and control costs, according to one study the group's paper cites. The
potential scale of biofuel cultivation, at more than 150 million acres, provides
ample opportunity to add to those costs, the committee says.

Some proposed biofuel crops already are invasive species.

One of the most alarming examples is giant reed, or Arundo donax, according to
Joseph DiTomaso, the University of California, Davis, weed specialist who
drafted the paper.

The grass grows in dense clumps up to 20 feet tall and is classified a noxious
weed in California and in Texas, as well as other areas of the South. But in
Florida, researchers are looking to plant even more of it as a biofuel crop, he
said.

Proposed energy crops like miscanthus and reed canary grass also are already
invasive species in some areas of the world, he said. And jatropha and algae,
crops that could one day supplant jet fuels used in aviation, also pose high
invasion risk, according to the Global Invasive Species Programme.

Other heavily publicized biofuel crops, such as switchgrass, look to be safer
bets in the United States, DiTomaso said.

The laws of unintended consequences are well-known to anyone familiar with the
history of invasive species.

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/08/12/12climatewire-will-energy-crops-become-t\
he-next-kudzu-16525.html

Another major Jatropha project suffers setback

Another Jatropha biofuel project initiated by D1 Oils Plc has suffered a jolt as
a major investor pulls out.

Reports reaching ghanabusinessnews.com from the US say, Europe’s second
largest oil company BP Plc intends to exit its Jatropha biofuel project with D1
Oils Plc. BP, according to the reports is exiting the Jatropha project to focus
on ethanol production in Brazil and the US and also to advance biobutanol
development.

As a result of BP’s withdrawal, D1 agreed to acquire its 50% interest in their
joint venture D1-BP Fuel Crops Ltd. venture which was set up in June 2007 to
develop Jatropha. Jatropha is a drought-resistant tree whose seeds contain oil
that can be used in biodiesel production.

The deal came to an end when the two companies failed to get a third investor
for the project. The two began talking about dissolving the venture this year
and bringing planting and plant-science operations under D1’s control.

http://ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/07/28/another-major-jatropha-project-suffers-s\
etback/

Thanks Dr.Reddy for your message.

I am glad to know that now Jatropha promoters are accepting the bare facts about
exotic Jatropha. We are saying from beginning that Jatropha requires much care
for good production and if required care is provided, it is far less profitable
than traditional crops. Jatropha is good for planting material sellers not for
the common farmers.

You have written that "convincing the farmers to take up
Jatropha on their waste and barren lands and asking them to
do", it seems that you are not aware of common farmers and their conditions. In
India farmers are efficient enough to utilise each and every piece of their
land. Land declared as wasteland by experts are useful land for common farmers.
I am talking about common farmers not rich farmers.

You better know rich farmers are doing agriculture to make black money white. I
am shocked and surprised that Hyderabad based ICRISAT is NOT conducting Jatropha
experiments with poor farmers. ICRISAT is promoting it as grand success. I was
in Zaheerabad few years back and know about ground realities. I suggest the
funding agencies to either stop funding ICRISAT for conducting research for rich
farmers or write clearly that this organisation is for rich farmers.

Dr. Reddy, Jatropha promotion may make your company rich but please think of
poor Indian farmers and also farmers around the world. In India farmers are
committing suicide. Seeing the Jatropha promotion in India in large scale,
experts are in worry that this promotion will lead to another phase of suicide.
Thousands of children have already reached to hospital due to Jatropha
poisoning. Five children have lost their precious lives. What else Jatropha
promoters want to do to punish common Indians and farmers?

Pankaj Oudhia

--- In jatropha@..., Krishna Chalapathy Reddy <chalagene@...>
wrote:
>
> Dear Pankaj,
>
> Thanks for the sharing lot of information along with photos of Jatropha to the
group. I am working in Mission Biofuels India Pvt, Mumbai and we have been
working on Jatropha for the past three years in five states (TN, KRN, MH, MP and
OR) we had tough time in convincing the farmers to take up Jatropha on their
waste and barren lands and asking them to do Agronomic practices in the Jatropha
fields to improve the Jatropha plants for optimum seed yield. Without minimum
Agronomic practices Jatropha will grow but it will not give fruits.
>
> I am here with attaching few photos of our plantations photos.
>
>
>    � Dr. K.�Chalapathy Reddy
>
> --- On Sun, 7/26/09, Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
>
> From: Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...>
> Subject: [jatropha] Status of Jatropha plantations in Indian state
Chhattisgarh.
> To: jatropha@...
> Date: Sunday, July 26, 2009, 5:41 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>                   Dear Group Members,
>
>
>
> I am continuously visiting to different Jatropha plantations. The condition of
almost all plantations is very poor.
>
>
>
> Please see it by your eyes.
>
>
>
> http://pick14. pick.uga. edu/mp/20p? see=I_PAO6862& res=640
>
>
>
> http://pick14. pick.uga. edu/mp/20p? see=I_PAO6861& res=640
>
>
>
> http://pick14. pick.uga. edu/mp/20p? see=I_PAO6864& res=640
>
>
>
> http://pick14. pick.uga. edu/mp/20p? see=I_PAO6872& res=640
>
>
>
> Pankaj Oudhia
>

Dear Group Members,

    I am continuously visiting to different Jatropha plantations. The condition
of almost all plantations is very poor.

Please see it by your eyes.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO6862&res=640

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO6861&res=640

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO6864&res=640

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO6872&res=640


Pankaj Oudhia

Dear Group Members,

    I am visiting to Mahanadi canal region , Aaarang, Chhattisgarh regularly due
to its unique diversity. This region is rich in Butea monoperma population. Now
authorities have planted Jatropha along with canal. I am observing its growth
and performance even more than the authorities. During recent visit I found that
natives are destroying Jatropha as it is encroaching their fields.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO6322&res=640

Without care, performance of Jatropha is very poor.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO6323&res=640

Hence in the name of Jatropha, simply authorities are wasting public's hard
earnings.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO6329&res=640


Pankaj Oudhia

Dear Group Members,

    As you know, I visit to dense forests regularly. These forests are rich in
biodiversity. Authorities have planted poisonous Jatropga deep inside these
forests. Jatropha is not only suppressing native flora but also spreading in new
areas. These pictures are from Indian state Chhattisgarh.


I was using this spot to collect rainy season herbs every year. From last year
due to Jatropha Allelochemicals, this place is free from medicinal herbs.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO6466&res=640

According to the natives this path was used by wild animals specially sloth
bear. Now authorities have planted long strip of Jatropha without knowing the
fact. As result Sloth bears have changed their route and passing through nearby
villages. Cases of Human-wildlife conflicts are increasing.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO6588&res=640


Due to delay in monsoon, there was long summer this year. Due to plantations of
water loving exotic species like Eucalyptus and Jatropha, water scarcity
created. Wildlife is moving towards human population. Few weeks back Hyena made
deadly attack on villagers and injured atleast 14 villagers.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5990

Directly as well as indirectly Jatropha is creating problems.



Pankaj Oudhia

Nature cure from India

By Shalini Bhutani

In February 2009, India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (mnre) signed a
memorandum of understanding (mou) with the US Department of Energy (doe). The
memorandum formalizes “cooperation in the development of biofuels” between
the two countries.

For the US the focus on biofuels is part of a strategy to de-addict its
oiloholic economy. It is estimated the world’s most energy guzzling country
will require approximately 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels by 2030. The
Obama government signed the biofuel cooperation agreement with India two weeks
after it was sworn in.


The US-India energy dialogue between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former US
President George Bush had, in 2005, led to the creation of five working
groups�"the most talked of being the one on civil nuclear energy. Less heard of
is the working group on new technology and renewable energy.

The memorandum lists eight areas of cooperation. It seeks the production of
feedstock with active involvement of local communities. There are fears of more
government programmes like National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme being
diverted to encourage US-designed energy cropping. Also on the anvil is the
development of quality planting material�"this will open the gates for new
proprietary technologies.

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20090731&filename=croc&sec_id\
=10&sid=1

BP exits jatropha biofuel project to focus on ethanol
Bloomberg News
July 17, 2009, 6:37AM

BP Plc, Europe's second-largest oil company, will exit its jatropha biofuel
project with D1 Oils Plc to focus on production of ethanol in Brazil and the
U.S. and advance biobutanol development.

“To ensure the success of these investments, BP is concentrating new business
development in these areas and will no longer be directly involved in the
jatropha as a biofuel feedstock,” Sheila Williams, a London-based company
spokeswoman, said today in an e-mail.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/6533823.ht

[News forwarded by Shefali Sharma. Thanks Shefali-Moderator.]

Biodiesel sector waits for clarity on benefits from duty cut

Kalpana Pathak / Mumbai July 9, 2009, 0:00 IST
>
>
>
> The biodiesel industry has welcomed finance minister’s move to reduce
> the customs duty on biodiesel from 7.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent and
> the duty paid on high-speed diesel blended with up to 20 per cent
> biodiesel to be exempted from excise duties. But, it is seeking
> clarity on the benefits the moves would bring.
>
> “We are trying to ascertain if the exemption would be available only
> to blended fuel or if it would be extended to the total product. This
> in any case would mean a huge cost advantage to the oil marketing
> firms. Around 5 per cent blending could mean that entire 95 per cent
> blending of the fuel could be exempted from duty,” said an industry
> expert who advises firms on procuring bio-fuel.
>
> Industry experts say while fossil fuel attracts excise duty, biodiesel
> does not. So a clarity is required on if blended bio-diesel will
> invite any amount of tax. Also, how the details would be worked out
> and what procedure would be followed.
>
> Biodiesel Association of India (BAI) has also written to the finance
> ministry seeking the customs duty concession to be extended on
> feedstock (free fatty acid and non-edible oils) imports to encourage
> running of over a dozen biodiesel processing units in India.
>
> While industry watchers believe the reduction in duty will also
> promote import of biodiesel, producers of biodiesel differ. “India’s
> processing capacity of bio-diesel is estimated at 200,000 tonnes per
> year but a majority of biodiesel units are not operational most of the
> year. What good will abolishing the duties do?” wondered an executive
> from a firm whose plant has been lying idle.
>
> Commercial production and marketing of bio-diesel in India is
> negligible due to the lack of availability of jatropha seed and other
> non-edible oil feedstock.
>
> Most existing bio-diesel producers use mixed feedstock including
> non-edible oilseeds, non-edible oil waste, and animal or fish fat as
> feedstock.
>
> “The existing jatropha plantations are at a very initial stage of
> growth. The total jatropha plantation area in the country is presently
> estimated around 450,000 hectares and, of this, over 70 per cent are
> new plantations and would mature in the next four years,” said an
> Ahmedabad-based industry analyst.
>
> In October 2005, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced a
> “biodiesel purchase policy”, in which oil companies would purchase
> biodiesel and blend it with high-speed diesel (HSD) at a 5 per cent
> blending ratio which was to take place in 20 procurement centres
> across major producing areas in the country from January 2006.
>
> However, owing to the cost of production of bio-diesel, which is said
> to be 20 per cent higher than the pre-determined price (reviewed every
> six months by the ministry), of Rs 26.5 per litre, there are no sales
> of bio-diesel at these centers. The overall cost of production for
> bio-diesel is around Rs 31 per litre today.
>
> *Firms acquire land abroad*
> With the present measures, companies like Emami Biotech, an outfit of
> the Emami group and Hazel Mercantile would benefit which are planning
> to produce and process bio-diesel abroad. Sources close to the
> development said these companies have acquired 10,000 acroes to 25,000
> hectares in Africa for cultivating jatropha and processing bio-diesel.
>
> An official from Emami confirmed the move. Emami last year,
> commissioned its 1,000 tonnes per day edible oil plant at Haldia which
> has the capacity to produce 300 tonnes per day of bio-diesel from palm
> oil.
>
> The plant, however, is lying idle.
>
> Industry experts say that to process bio-fuel, land and other
> resources are more easily available abroad. Thus more and more
> companies are looking to adopting this strategy to enter the bio-fuel
> segment.
>
>
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/biodiesel-sector-waits-for-claritybe\
nefitsduty-cut/363357/

Dear Group Members,

     If you are exhausted of poisonous and obnoxious Jatropha and want to control
this "weed", please attend Weed Day in UC Davis. There is special session for
Jatropha control.

http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=9176

Thanks God !!! At least few researchers are going in right direction.

Pankaj Oudhia

Dear Group Members,

      Although very late but it is good news that now Indian media is publishing
news of Jatropha failure. Farmers are in anger and raising voice against
Jatropha plantation based corruption. Shri Tripathi of Nahili village told the
media that he planted one lakh saplings but after harvest when he contacted
forest department, they refused even to talk with the farmer. When another
Farmer Shri Rama Manohar planted Jatropha in one acre by removing food crops,
District authorities visited to encourage. When he approached to the authorities
with seeds no one was there to respond. Farmer named Shri Ashok destroyed 5
quintal Jatropha seeds. This news clipping in Hindi says that farmers used heavy
machinery by their own expenses to remove Jatropha from fields as Jatropha is
deep rooted plant and once established its hard to remove.

http://www.bundelkhandlive.com/site/?p=670

Few days back I got reaction from senior farmer who uprooted Jatropha recently,
on use of Jatropha oil by New Zealand Air. He simply said " Fools are present
throughout world."


Pankaj Oudhia

http://knol.google.com/k/pankaj-oudhia/pankaj-oudhia/3nerdtj3s9l79/1

Heat on NGO for funds misuse

Heat on NGO for funds misuse
OUR CORRESPONDENT

Jamshedpur, June 28: A West Singhbhum-based NGO is under scanner for having
allegedly misused funds allocated under the Centre’s National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).

Following a directive issued by the West Singhbhum deputy commissioner, Sunil
Kumar, an FIR was lodged today with Chaibasa Sadar police station against Sur
Savera for allegedly duping state exchequer of Rs 80 lakh.

The NGO was entrusted with jatropha plantations in three blocks of West
Singhbhum at a cost of Rs 1.69 crore under the NREGS in 2007-08.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090629/jsp/jharkhand/story_11171491.jsp

30 students rushed to hospital after eating poisonous Physic seeds

Thu, Jun 18, 2009
The Nation/Asia News Network



CHAIYAPHUM, Thailand - Thirty students here were rushed to a district hospital
at noon after they ate poisonous Physic seeds (Jatropha curcas).

Doctor Manij Chaicharnnarong, director of the Kaengkro Hospital, said 29 of the
students were discharged after doctors performed detoxification aids for them.

One of them, who took over 20 seeds, was admitted for close monitoring. He is
Anuchit Boonso, 11 a fifth grader of the Nong Sala Pachart School in Tambon
Nongsung in Kaengkro district.

The students said they thought the Physic seeds were edible so they had them as
snack during the lunch break.

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20090618-149352.htm\
l

Jatropha viability as biofuel crop falls into doubt

By Dominique Paton  (email the author)

Posted Wednesday, June 17 2009 at 00:00

Jatropha, the oily plant billed as the answer to Africa’s energy problems,
needs more water than other biofuel crops, a new study reveals.

The findings by Dutch researchers raise questions about the long-term viability
of several projects currently in the start-up phase in Kenya.

Proponents of jatropha claim that the plant is well-suited to the dry, arid
conditions in Africa.

But though the plant survives more easily than others without water, it would
need substantially more water than soy, corn or sugar beet to produce enough oil
for comparable amounts of energy, reported Professor Arjen Hoekstra and his
colleagues at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

“There is a misunderstanding that plants that are drought resistant can do
well without water. During this period of drought, the plant doesn’t grow,”
Professor Hoekstra told Business Daily.

The researchers measured the ‘water footprint’ of 13 different crops, or the
volume of water used to produce the crop in relation to the amount of energy
that could be obtained from the crop.

They found that jatropha needs an average of 20,000 litres of water for every
litre of biodiesel, well above the 14,000 litres needed by rapeseed biodiesel.

And when compared to ethanol made from sugar or corn, jatropha needs about five
times as much water to make the same amount of energy, the study showed,
published this month in a leading scientific journal, the Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers acknowledged that data from jatropha production is still
limited.

They based their findings on plantations in India, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Brazil,
and Guatemala.

For all the other crops, the researchers had more comprehensive data. This may
affect the results, said Professor Hoekstra.

“There are big differences among countries for all crops, sometimes by a
factor of two or four.”

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Company%20Industry/-/539550/611678/-/u9oce8z/\
-/

Dear Group Members,

         Terminalia arjuna, popularly known as Arjuna, is tree of medicinal
importance. Its bark is used for heart troubles. Plant parts are used in over
20,000 traditional formulations. Chhattisgarh is having rich population of this
tree. But in the name of development now these trees are cut without mercy.

Arjun tree population in Mahanadi canal has saved millions of lives. Now
authorities have planted Jatropha in space between Arjun trees. Jatropha toxins
are affecting growth of Arjun tree. I have observed in my pot culture experiment
that Jatropha extracts are having positive allelopathic effect on Arjun. This
increasing pressure of Jatropha is now forcing Traditional Healers to stop
collection of Arjun plant parts for medicine.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5534&res=640

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5530&res=640


Trees with white trunk are of Arjun.


Pankaj Oudhia

http://knol.google.com/k/pankaj-oudhia/-/3nerdtj3s9l79/0#

Dear Group Members,

           Here is small example that how Jatropha planted in canal bund is
affecting common Indian. Please see this picture.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5511&res=640

According to this shepherd, earlier the bund was having rich population of
plants used as fodder. Now due to Jatropha few species are surviving. This
decrease in native plant population is forcing him to travel long distance in
search of fodder. When I asked him about Jatropha. He simply said that it is
socalled biodiesel plant but I think it is another fraud by authorities.

Pankaj Oudhia

["Seven days medicinal herbs based schedule/course for possible prevention of
Swine Flu."

http://knol.google.com/k/pankaj-oudhia/seven-days-medicinal-herbs-based/3nerdtj3\
s9l79/9#  ]

Dear Group Members,

    According to modern scientific literature, Jatropha is well known Fish
poison. Its toxicity to humanbeings is also known. Ignoring it the Jatropha
promoters have planted it along with canals in India.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5537&res=640

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5466&res=640

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5464&res=640

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5468&res=640

Once planted Jatropha will remain as curse up to half century. The water of this
canal is used for fishery, human consumption as well as for washing. Natives
have started complaining health problems due to such plantations near canal
specially during summer when water is less and fruiting is on.


Pankaj Oudhia

http://knol.google.com/k/pankaj-oudhia/pankaj-oudhia/3nerdtj3s9l79/1#

All Washed Up for Jatropha?

Phil McKenna

The draught-resistant "dream" biofuel is also a water hog

A comprehensive new analysis of water use in biofuel crop production finds that
jatropha, an oil-rich plant championed for its ability to grow in arid regions
where food crops cannot, is the biggest water hog of them all. Researchers from
the University of Twente, in the Netherlands, report in a recent issue of the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that jatropha requires five
times as much water per unit of energy as sugarcane and corn, and nearly ten
times as much as sugar beet--the most water-efficient biofuel crop, according to
the same study.
In recent years, as corn and other biofuel came under fire for driving up the
cost of food production, some biofuel producers turned to Jatropha curcas, a
weed that grows wild throughout the tropics and semitropics and produces seeds
rich in oil.
In 2007, the oil-industry heavyweight BP teamed up with British biofuels company
D1 Oils on a five-year, �80 million project to cultivate the plant in India,
Southeast Asia, and Southern Africa. Together, the companies have planted more
than 200,000 hectares so far. And the plant made headlines again late last year,
when it became the first non-food-based biofuel to power a jet engine. But
mounting evidence suggests that jatropha is not as ideal as once thought.
"The claim that jatropha doesn't compete for water and land with food crops is
complete nonsense," says study coauthor Arjen Hoekstra. The researcher says it's
true that the plant can grow with little water and can survive through periods
of drought, but to flourish, it needs good growing conditions just like any
other plant. "If there isn't sufficient water, you get a low amount of oil
production," Hoekstra says.
Hoekstra and his colleagues assessed the water footprint of 13 different biofuel
crops. Their calculations included regional estimates of how much rainwater each
crop received and how much additional water would be required through irrigation
for optimal growth. The study also considered evaporation rates during the
growing season in the main production areas of each crop, and the average yields
of each from 1997 to 2001. The figures were then averaged by country and
globally to come up with a single water-footprint figure--per liter of ethanol
or biodiesel--for each crop.
"You see a big difference depending on the country where the biomass is
produced, different climates, different agricultural practices, the crop being
used, whether it is a starch or sugar crop used for bioethanol, an oil crop for
biodiesel, or a crop that is burned for electricity generation," Hoekstra says.
The team calculated that jatropha requires an average of 20,000 liters of water
for every liter of biodiesel produced in India, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Brazil,
and Guatemala--the only countries for which jatropha production figures were
available. For all the other crops, the researchers used much more
comprehensive--and thus truly global--data from the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations. Soybeans and rapeseed, the two other
biodiesel crops considered in the study, were next highest in terms of water
consumption, each requiring roughly 14,000 liters of water per liter of fuel.
Chris Somerville, director of the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University
of California, Berkeley, says he's not that surprised by the study's findings.
"Jatropha is a wild species and probably has a terrible harvest index [ratio of
yield to the total harvest] because no breeding has been done yet," he says.
Somerville says that interest in jatropha was driven largely by European Union
(EU) mandates for biodiesel production that were reduced in December 2008 due to
environmental concerns that biofuels--in particular, biodiesel from palm
oil--were causing the destruction of rain forests and wetlands. "I don't know if
we'll see the death of jatropha, but we certainly see a lot less demand for it
in Europe now than a couple of years ago, when there was a real scramble for
it," Somerville says.
Another recent study, carried out by Friends of the Earth, found that jatropha
plantations in Swaziland run by BP and D1 Oils were taking land and water away
from food crops in a country already suffering from chronic food shortages.
Somerville says that jatropha and other biodiesel crops will likely be pushed
out by much higher yields of cellulosic ethanol in developed countries in the
coming years, but that the plants may continue to fill a niche. "The developing
world may continue to see a big demand for jatropha and other vegetable oils
because capital investment is much less than for ethanol and especially the
highly technical processes of cellulosic fuels," he says.
Henk Joos, who is the plant science director at D1 Oils, contends that the EU
mandates still call for large quantities of biodiesel and says that newer,
higher-yield strains of jatropha could solve many of the plant's water-use
issues. Joos is crossbreeding different strains of jatropha to increase seed
production and to maximize the seeds' oil content, and he's developing processes
that allow the remaining seed biomass to be used for animal feed.
In 2006, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), an Indian research group,
began a 10-year, $9.4 million effort to develop jatropha that included
genetically engineering seeds to have higher oil content. Nibhi Chanana of TERI
says that the group is still three to four years away from isolating the genes
that control for oil production.
(Source: Technology Review)

http://www.morungexpress.com/analysis/25834.html

Dear Group Members,

    Please see this "Battle at Kruger" up to end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM


Up to end, please.


Ok. Then put Indigenous Diospyros in place of Bufallo and Exotic Jatropha in
place of Lion.

Diospyros melanoxylon is indigenous species of economic importance. The
authorities cleared Diospyros before planting Jatropha. Initially Jatropha
population tried to smother indigenous Diospyros but now as Bufallo in youtube
video, now Diospyros is becoming aggressive to suppress Jatropha. In this
picture, Green plant is of Diospyros and diseased poor plant is of Jatropha.

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5398&res=640

In back you can see supporting population of Diospyros.

Other pictures of Diospyros re-establishment.

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5395&res=640

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5394&res=640


Pankaj Oudhia

Dear Group Members,

    In India, Jatropha is not feeling well in Lateritic land. Whereas indigenous
species are flourishing as usual in such lands. Please see this picture taken
few days back during hot summer. Jatropha is in poor condition even after giving
all inputs in access but Neem is growing in Jatropha land without any care.
Hence, even layman can recommend plantation of indigenous species like Neem in
such lands not to invest in exotic Jatropha.

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5421&res=640


Pankaj Oudhia

http://pankajoudhia.com/

Jatropha - Careful Science, Uninformed Optimism and Simplistic Implementation

Written by Dave Harcourt
Published on June 8th, 2009
Posted in About Energy, In Africa
Three different news items highlight the vast differences in viewpoint and the
continuing uncertainty around the farming of Jatropha by small scale farmers as
a feedstock for Europe’s refineries moving towards meeting the EU’s
renewable liquid fuel goals.

http://ecoworldly.com/2009/06/08/jatropha-careful-science-uninformed-optimism-an\
d-simplistic-implementation/

Dear Group Members,

      Many group members have raised the question that how I calculate Jatropha
survival rate. They complained that the rate is very high and not acceptable.
For them I am forwarding few pictures with request to calculate the survival
rate in socalled model project.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5418&res=640

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5416&res=640

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5411&res=640

Hard to believe? It is three years old plantation (with all inputs at luxury
consumption level). When it was inaugurated the chief guest said

"Bio-diesel is a field which can change the condition of the state and the
country," Kalam told jatropha cultivators of Sunderkera village in Raipur.

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-24381570_ITM

I have taken thousands of pictures in different parts of India enough to prove
complete Jatropha failure.


Pankaj Oudhia

http://knol.google.com/k/pankaj-oudhia/pankaj-oudhia/3nerdtj3s9l79/1

Dear Group Members,

     As human population is increasing and collection of fuel wood from nearby
forest is increasing, the availability of wood is decreasing and as result
population is focusing attention on Jatropha. I have mentioned earlier that its
difficult to burn Jatropha but natives are using it with other wood. Please see
this picture.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5295&res=640


You will find such scenes of Jatropha burning very frequently while moving in
plantation areas.

As you know, Jatropha plant parts are full of HCN. There is no research saying
that use of Jatropha as fuel wood is safe. In areas where Jatropha is in use for
this purpose specific eye trouble is increasing at alarming rates.

The Traditional Healers say that burning Jatropha is curse due to its toxic
chemicals, for bees and many other beneficial insects used as traditional
medicine.

By the way, please see small "wood mafia" carrying green trees in parts without
any fear.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5204&res=640

Every morning atleast 2000 such cycles pass through this single road with dead
bodies of green forest trees. As result, forest is decreasing at alarming rates.


Pankaj Oudhia

http://knol.google.com/k/pankaj-oudhia/pankaj-oudhia/3nerdtj3s9l79/1#

Dear Group Members,

   Please see this picture

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5249&res=640


In Chhattisgarh, instead of planting Jatropha variety, plants with much
variations have been planted. As result at same time they perform with much
differences. In this picture you can see variations in Jatropha planted at same
time. Please note these plants are also low fruit yielding. Hence, these are
nothing but burden.

This news clip is saying everything

Jatropha may secure energy, but planting schemes fail to bear fruit

http://www.livemint.com/2007/09/30235424/2007/11/21004643/Jatropha-may-secure-en\
ergy-bu.html


Pankaj Oudhia

http://knol.google.com/k/pankaj-oudhia/pankaj-oudhia/3nerdtj3s9l79/1#

Dear Group Members,

      Last year I posted a message showing pictures of burning Jatropha by rice
farmers. During field preparations they found this weed encroaching their lands.
The Jatropha was planted by state authorities. Without much hesitation farmers
uprooted and burnt the plants. I visited the same spot again and found that now
Jatropha is growing well. I asked to farmers about yield. They said that these
are not fruiting types (?). They complained that this fencing is restricting
many of us from entering our fields. There is need for continuous pruning.
Earlier they were using the rainy and winter season plants growing in this place
as fodder, food and medicine but now due to Jatropha very few species flourish
under it. Many farmers were using this land for raising Cajanus cajan.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5166&res=640


Pankaj Oudhia

http://knol.google.com/k/pankaj-oudhia/pankaj-oudhia/3nerdtj3s9l79/1#

Dear Group Members,

    I am visiting to Jatropha plantations continuously. In series titled "That's
how Jatropha is performing in India" I will present some pictures stating the
ground realities of Jatropha.

In this picture, Jatropha is planted inside dense forest. Jatropha plants are
enjoying all chemical inputs in higher side. As result now they are becoming
trees but even after many years of planting these plants are not bearing enough
fruits. Fruiting in very poor in Chhattisgarh conditions. Many are blaming
planting material where as others are blaming agro-climatic conditions for poor
fruiting. I am in worry because now it is burden on forest. No one is going to
uproot it from here.

If you see the picture closely you will find wooden pole fence around Jatropha
row. These wooden poles are from valuable old indigenous trees existing in
forest. Such foolish work has been done in thousands of acres to "protect"
Jatropha.

http://pick14.pick.uga.edu/mp/20p?see=I_PAO5287&res=640


Pankaj Oudhia

http://knol.google.com/k/pankaj-oudhia/pankaj-oudhia/3nerdtj3s9l79/1#