India has a very huge potential of tree-born non-edible oil seeds. The country is endowed with more than 100 species of these oil seeds, occuring in the wild or cultivated sporadically to yield oil in considerable quantities. Attempts are being made to utilize non-edible and under-exploited oils for biodiesel production.

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas Linn.) is a non-edible oilseed plant with adaptability to marginal semi-arid lands and wastelands. The Indian Government is promoting jatropha to reduce dependence on the crude oil and to achieve energy independence by the year 2012, under the National Biodiesel Mission. Adaptive trials on J.

The existing Jatropha curcas in the country exhibit varying degrees of success in terms of seed oil yield and susceptiblity to pest and diseases. Hence, an intensive hybridization programme has been attempted between Jatropha curcas and other Jatropha species to develop new hybrids with higher yield potential and resistance to diseases. Among the interspecific crosses, the cross between J.

This article showcases the successful establishment of cluster level biodiesel resource centres catering to rural energy demands and the creation of livelihood opportunities in over 70 villages in Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. Central to this initiative has been the ongoing experiences with communities who collect and sell seeds of the indigenous tree Pongamia pinnata.

Recently, biodiesel has been receiving increasing attention due to its less polluting nature and also because it is a renewable energy resource. Mostly, biodiesel is prepared from edible oils like soybean, rapeseed and sunflower through out the world. Attempts have been made for producing biodiesel with non edible oils like karanja and jatropha especially in India.

Farmers can save crops without pesticides. And they can earn more in the deal. sopan joshi records a great change sweeping through Andhra Pradesh. It’s called non-pesticidal

The seeds of a plant called jatropha yield oil that, after processing, makes biodiesel. It can reduce India s burgeoning oil import bill. And there s lots of money to be made. But who will earn? What land will be used for this? down t

in a bid to promote crop diversification, the Punjab government is venturing into contract farming of basmati rice, oilseeds and durum wheat (see: Down To Earth, February 15, 2003). The state-run