Jatropha would be planted at the peripheries of new plantations to be undertaken by Forest Department. Giving this information, Forest Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah informed that in the coming days this move would ensure livelihood to rural people though Forest Committees and bio-diesel would also become available from jatropha oil in remote areas.

India today expressed concern on the diversion of foodgrains to bio-fuel production. At an international forum it firmly rejected the West's point of view that higher consumption in emerging economies was the reason behind the rising global food prices in the world.

The use of grain to make ethanol will rise by 31% to 124 million tonne in 2008-09, according to initial projections suggested by the International Grains Council (IGC).

by Harender Raj Gautam THE Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations is holding an emergency meeting of heads of states from June 3 to 5, 2008, to discuss "World Food Security and the Challenges of Climate Change and Bio-energy.' World foodgrain stocks are at historic lows and there is enough only for three months. World over, food prices have almost doubled in the last three years, threatening to push 100 million people into absolute poverty. The threat of hunger and malnutrition is growing. Millions of the world's most vulnerable people are at risk.

Biofuel subsidies came under attack on Tuesday at the opening of the United Nations food summit in Rome as the head of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation claimed that "nobody" understood the diversion of food to fuel cars. The opening salvo is likely to set the tone for the next three days and put countries such as the US and Brazil, the world's largest biofuel producers, and also the European Union, on the defensive over their support of biofuel production.

Biofuels can boost incomes and yields for farmers, revitalising impoverished rural areas when they are introduced in countries with secure land ownership, the International Institute for Environment and Development said. By raising the price of crops such as corn and palm oil, biofuels can reduce poverty in countries with a high dependency on agriculture, the London-based researcher said in a report with the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Food prices will remain high over the next decade even if they fall from current records, meaning millions more risk further hardship or hunger, the OECD and the U.N.'s FAO food agency said in a report published on Thursday. Beyond stating the immediate need for humanitarian aid, the international bodies suggested wider deployment of genetically modified crops and a rethink of biofuel programs that guzzle grain which could otherwise feed people and livestock.