The recent furore over the Kyoto protocol pertaining to global climate change, as well as the rising prices of fossil fuels has led India and other developing countries to look for an ecological and economically viable alternative. Several initiatives have been taken in recent times on the energy front such as large scale promotion of wind energy farms for power generation, blending of ethyl alcohol with petrol and developmental efforts towards bio fuels.

Impressed by the potential of Jatropha curcas, the Government of India and the Planning Commission have been looking at the opportunity carefully. Several reports have been prepared and organizations such as the Indian Oil Corporation and Indian Railways, as well as several universities and private institutions, have initiated technology development plans. The Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh governments have introduced schemes to encourage investment in Jatropha plantations. Enthused by the government support, several individuals and organizations have already started cultivating Jatropha in a big way. Progress in India has been limited so far, though a serious effort, officials say, would cut India’s import dependence by as much as 10%. Small Indian companies are already at it. Labland Biotech, for instance, has a long-term contract with the UK-based global firm, DI Oils, to supply one crore Jatropha plants a year for the next 10 years, besides supplying 10,000-50,000 tonnes of Jatropha crude oil annually over the next 15 years. Farmers in Karnataka and neighbouring states are being roped in through the contract farming route. Reliance Industries is reported to have earmarked 200 acres of land in Andhra Pradesh, which will be scaled up depending on the progress of the project.

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