Jatropha - Bio Energy Crop
Jatropha is the plant with many possible advantages. As the nonrenewable fuel sources are decreasing rapidly and the carbon dioxide emission produced from it pollutes the atmosphere, the world is working towards an alternative fuel to overcome it.
The Jatropha curcas is the plant which can grow in semi dry region, little care is enough for its growth. It grows both in topical and sub tropical region. The jatropha curcas seed contains 35 percent oil material in it. The oil from jatropha can be used as biodiesel mix up to 20% without refining. The oil burns with clear smoke-free flame, and was evaluated successfully as a fuel for basic diesel motor. It is not a food crop because the oil is non-edible. The oil is used as a standard medicine disinfectant and to cure illness like cancer, piles, snakebite, paralysis dropsy etc. The seed oil is likewise used for lighting and in soap preparation. It is seldom used as a live fence in preventing crops from livestock and it periodically used as home demarcation. It decreases the soil disintegration.
The optimal growing conditions for the Jatropha plant ranges from 1000 to1500 mm annual rains, with temperature levels of 20 to 28 C. The soil should be free draining pipes without any water logging. But sufficient water and nutrition is a needs to for high yield. The jatropha is simple to grow and it can bear the seeds within a year of planting. It offers oxygen for the world and it can grow even in bad soil. It can not endure frost.
The Jatropha Electrification is developing in numerous countries. Mali is thought about to be one of the poorest countries worldwide. At Mali, Garalo jatropha curcas Producers' Cooperative (CPP) and the ACCESS are the primary institutions establishing jatropha cultivation. The private power company ACCESS is produces and does electricity sales. Currently 247 homes are linked to the micro grid after a payment of $30 as a contribution to the connection costs. Likewise in India, the Rural Electricity Supply Technology (REST) mission of the Ministry of Power (MOP) preparation to produce power for all by 2012. The little scale power generation projects were developed in Chattisgarh, India. It is being run by Winrock International in the Kabir Dham district. This small power system supplies 24-hour power supply at the extremely affordable price of 50 cents per light bulb to poor villagers. It is 17.5 KW capability power plant runs on raw jatropha curcas seed oil.jatropha curcas is a promising crop for rural development. The jatropha curcas oil illuminate rural locations with electricity. The jatropha curcas planting on the wastelands has the ability to offer 50-60% of the India's fuel requirements.
The Jatropha curcas plantation in 1 hectare reduces 20 lots of co2 annually. The largest jatropha producing country in Asia will be Indonesia and India. In Africa, Ghana and Madagascar will be the largest producers. Brazil will be the largest producer in Latin America. The plantation is a labor intensive process thus it produces job for many bad rural individuals. Above all Jatropha can be utilized as a Renewable resource.