Government of India is importing 72-75 million tons of petroleum products annually and produces 30-32 million tons indigenously. The import burden is 1/3 of total GDP. Out of 100 million tons requirement of petroleum produced in the country the diesel requirement is 45 million tons. In India 80% diesel and 20% petrol is utilized as against Europe, US where 90-95% petrol and 5-10% diesel. So our transport basically depends on diesel. India has initiated blending 5% ethanol in petrol in 9(nine) States. Similarly the Government of India has planned to replace 5-10% petrol-diesel with bio-diesel in next 5 years duration. It has standardized worldwide as well as in India and tested regularly for more than 2 years and has been observed that upto 20% blending has no any negative effect on diesel engine, therefore the bio diesel mixed diesel can be used directly without any modification in motor vehicle upto 20%. To achieve the target of 1-% blending of bio diesel into petrol diesel we require 4.5 million tons annually in the country. Undertaking Jatropha plantation in 7.5 million hectare can fulfil this requirement.
India has more than 64 million hectare wasteland, which are very much suitable for Jatropha and Karanz cultivation. Therefore using any kind of oil having triglycerides can produce bio diesel. Accordingly US and European countries are producing bio diesel by using sunflower, peanut, soya bean and mustard oil. However in Indian situation we are already in shortage of edible oil. Therefore we cannot afford to divert our edible oil for bio diesel production. There are hundreds of species available in our country, however with detail survey and possibility of extension and merit for cultivation in wasteland without compensating with cultivated crops, Jatropha and Karanz can be promoted and their oil being high viscosity can be easily used for bio diesel production.
Bio diesel production is a simple chemical process called trans etherification wherein Jatropha and Karanz oil is to be heated to 60oC and 10 % ethanol or methanol is to be blended where temperature goes to 60oC. As a catalyst sodium hydroxide or potassium hydro oxide may be mixed for quick reaction then the oil blended may be kept for at least 3 hours. The upper liquid part will be glycerol, which can be further refined for production of glycerine.
The NOVOD board, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India has initiated a programme for undertaking model plantation of Jatropha or Karanz in 21 States of the country including Nagaland. Similarly a programme for undertaking the research and development has also been initiated by networking of 42 national institutes in the country including ICAR Research Centre Nagaland. Nagaland is getting improved material from 19 States under National networking programme of Jatropha and developing high yielding varieties and package and practices and also standardizing the package and practices suitable to agro-climatic condition of Nagaland. Simultaneously, the State Department of Agriculture Nagaland has also undertaken model plantation of Jatropha in all districts covering 300 Hec areas in the State. About 100 Hec has been already covered under model plantation in Dimapur district. The farmers interested for Jatropha cultivation for bio diesel production may visit different location in Dimapur district in consultation with Dr. Supong Keitzar, Director of Agriculture.
The Central team comprising of Dr. Kuril, Director NOVOD Board, Govt. of India, Dr. D Rao, Scientist (Entomology) ICAR, Nagaland Centre, Mr. Apong Pongener, Programme Officer, Directorate of Agriculture, Kohima, Ikuto Zhimomi, DAO Dimapur, D K Chetri (Pathologist) in charge Bio Control Lab, Medziphema and Ranphamo, SDAO Niuland have made extensive survey of the State and have recommended that Jatropha as a promising crop of the State and the State can be self sufficient for energy requirement by producing diesel from Jatropha.
Jatropha can be a very good source of income and employment generation to the rural unemployed youth of the States. The educated unemployed can establish processing plant and trans etherification units for oil extraction and bio diesel production in the State.
(Siewatho & Temjen)
