PREAMBLE
Self-reliance in energy is essential
for economic development of any nation. The need to search for alternative
sources of energy which are renewable, safe and non-polluting assumes
top-priority in view of the uncertain supplies and frequent price hikes of
fossil fuels in the international market. The world today consumes approximately
ten times as much energy per person as it was 100 years ago. The world energy
consumption is expected to increase 2.3% per year for the next two years. The
severe depletion of fossil fuel resources in future may lead to stalemate and
push the planet into the darkness. Apart from this, the burning of fossil fuels
also disturbing the planet ecosystem by causing green house effect, global
warming, ozone depletion, acid rain etc,. India like any other developing
countries is also not spared from this phenomenon. The demand for petroleum
products in the country has risen from a modest level of 3.3 MT in 1950-51 to
65.5 MT in 1994-95. The current demand is more than 100 MT per year which create
oil pool deficit of more than 15000 crore rupees.
Thus,
increased demand for petroleum products has resulted in burdening not only on
National exchequer but also on foreign exchange. The only solution to meet the
present energy crisis without affecting the ecological balance is the use of
renewable energy sources. Trees can
be used as an alternative source of Kerosene, Diesel, Furnace oil, Coal, fuel
wood and to bring wastelands and barren agricultural land under plantations.
In
this context, the Government of Karnataka in its brief presentations to the
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India during
his recent visit to assess the Agricultural scenario in the state it was
emphasized that the potential dry district of the state having unique oil
yielding species need to be explored for expansion of biofuel plantations and
further it was also mentioned that the
state is only next to Rajasthan with respect to extent of drought prone
area which could be use for biofuel
production. This intervention not only provides employment and economic
improvement but also energy security and environmental protection.
The
former President of India Dr. A.P.J. Adbul Kalam in his address to the
Legislative Assembly on the 50 years of formation of the Karnataka also
emphasized on the security of energy and biofuels mainly on the wastelands as
the primary option. He emphasized on establishment of model biodiesel plant with
the biofuel plantations and to evolve suitable engines which can run on biofuel
alone.
For complying above suggestions, there is a vast scope to introduce biofuel species in Karnataka. Out of total geographical area of 190 lakh ha of Karnataka, the total wasteland constitutes about 46 lakh ha (24.6%). These can be reclaimed by taking up of mass plantation of bio-fuel species. Greening of these wastelands could also help to increase forest cover and to achieve sustainable forest operations. In addition to waste lands, farm lands can also be used to grow some of the biofuel species under agroforestry combinations. This would help to supplement income level of farmers there by enhancing their livelihood security.
The present proposal is made with the following specific objectives. These have been formulated keeping in view of substantial waste lands available in Karnataka, dependence on imports and need for enhancing livehood security of the farmers.
OBJECTIVES
1.
Survey,
collection and evaluation of tree borne oil seeds/ biofuel species.
2.
Genetic
enhancement of biofuel species for yield and oil content.
3.
Standardization
of protocol for mass multiplication of biofuel species.
4.
Development of
Agro-techniques for biofuel species in varied agro-climatic zones of Karnataka.
5.
Establishment of
planting stock production units and model plantations.
6.
Development and
establishment of cost-effective expelling and esterification units.
7.
Creation of
marketing net work for seed procurement.
A.
NATIONAL SCENARIO
The
research activities on biofuels at National level are implemented by the
institutes like ICAR, CSRI and SAU’s. The NOVOD Board also gives financial
assistance to implement the research and developmental activities.
Salient
findings at the National level are:
Ø
In jatropha 1758
superior trees with yield of 2.0 to 4.0 kg/tree and with more than 30% of oil
have been identified.
Ø
Progenies have
been evaluated for initial vigour.
Ø
Propagation
techniques have been standardized.
Ø
More than 300
germplasm superior species/plants of jatropha having distinct characters have
been cryo preserved at NBPGR, New Delhi.
Ø
National Bureau
of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) conducted germplasm surveys for the
systematic collection of J. curcas germplasm from four
distinct ecogeographical zones of peninsular India in 2005 and acquired
162 accessions. This involved recording of passport data including coordinates,
documentation of important plant traits and assessment of variability.
Ø
Location of
promising germplasm accessions for oil content, fruits/cluster and for number of
primary branches are also mapped. The mapping suggests that Chattisgarh region
is a potential source for richness of J.curcas and possesses good
diversity with promising germplasm
Under
Karanja 432 candidate plus trees have been identified from 120 districts.
B.
University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad and Bangalore
At University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad, research and promotional
activities on biofuels have been initiated during 2001-02.
v
The work on collection and
evaluation of jatropha, neem,
pongamia and simarouba candidate plus trees have been initiated
v
Standardized the pruning
levels and nutritional aspects on growth and yield of Jatropha under rainfed
conditions.
v
Various biofuel species (jatropha,
neem, simarouba and pongamia) are being evaluated under agroforestry system.
v
A model plantation of
jatropha, neem, simarouba and pongamia is established.
v
Under the promotional activities, two lakh seedlings of Jatropha/pongamia/
simarouba were raised and established in farmers field, research stations of UAS
Dharwad, and in state seed farms of GOK in Northern Karnataka under NOVOD Board,
Gurgaon.
v
Under State Land Use Board, GOK project, 30 lakhs seedlings of
tree borne oilseed and 2.5 lakh grafts were raised and distributed to farmers
and government agencies.
v
Regular training programme
on biofuels are being conducted all over the northern state to the farmers and
extension officers.
THRUST
AREA
Despite
the greater potential of biofuels, area expansion is constrained by various
factors like non availability of improved genotypes of biofuel species, lack of
suitable agro techniques, non availability of quality planting materials and
seed procurement and processing facilities etc. Hence, it is imperative to
strengthen research and developmental activities on biofuels in Karnataka.
Biofuel species namely Jatropha/Ratanjyot (Jatropha
curcas), Karanja (Pongamia pinnata), Simarouoba (Simarauba
glauca), Neem (Azadirachta indica),
Mahua (Madhuca indica) etc, have
potential to grow and establish in varied agro-climatic conditions and in the
wasteland of the country. Most of these TBO’s species scattered in forest and
non-forest areas and hardly 20 per cent of the existing potential is being
utilized.
Jatropha
/ Ratanjyot (Jatropha curcas)
Ratanjyot, a large soft wooded deciduous shrub, is found in India in semi arid conditions. It can be grown in areas of low rainfall (600 mm per year) and in problematic soils. In high rainfall and irrigated areas too it can be grown with much higher yields. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra etc. are some of the potential states. The flowers occur during March in hot and rainy season. The fruiting starts in September and seed collection can be started during October-November.
Karnja
(Pongamia pinnata)
Karanja, a medium sized glabrous tree with a short bole and spreading crown, is distributed throughout India along roadside and railway tracks. It is drought resistant and tolerant to salinity. Karanja has an estimated potential of about 2 lakh MT seeds, which can yield about 0.50 lakh M T oil. It can be propagated by seeds or by stem cuttings/root during July-August. Flowering occurs during April-September depending upon locality and seed collection period starts from May to June. The seeds contain 27-39% oil that is used for soap making, leather dressing, lubrication, illumination and for medicinal purposes.
Neem
(Azadirachta indica)
Neem is a large evergreen, but deciduous in dry areas and occurs
throughout India. It has an estimated potential of about 8 lakh MT of neem
seeds, which can yield about 1.5 lakh MT of oil.
The dried fruits contain about 20% of oil/fat and 30-35% of proteins.
About 25-28% kernel is found in dried fruits and contains about 25% oil.
Azadirachtin, salanin, nimbin, nimbidin etc are some of the limoides responsible
for multipurpose uses.
Simarouba
(Simarouba glauca)
Simarouba is an evergreen tree, which thrives well on eroded/laterite soils under sub tropical areas. It can be propagated through seeds, cutting and layering during July. The Simarouba kernels contain 60-75% edible fat, which can be used as cocoa better substitute and in the preparation of vanaspati. It is also used for the manufacture of quality soaps, lubricants, paints, polishes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals etc. It also contains 50-54% proteins. The oil cake is rich in nitrogen (8%), phosphorus (1%) and potash (1.2%) and precious organic manure. The fruit pulp is rich in sugar (11%) and used in the beverage and fermentation industry.
Mahua
(Madhuca indica)
Mahua, a deciduous tree is generally found in dry tropical deciduous forests. Mahua has an estimated potential of about 5 lakh M.T. seeds, which can yield about 1.5-2 lakh M.T. oil. It can be propagated through seeds in the month of July-August.
IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE PROJECT
The project will be implemented in 12 locations in the Karnataka
State covering research, model plantation units and development and promotion
activities in potential areas.
1. Survey, collection and evaluation: An intensive survey will be undertaken to identify elite plant types for oil yield in different biofuel tree species. The seeds collected from these candidate plus trees will be evaluated for productivity under multilocation trial. Efforts will also be made to propagate vegetatively to retain the parental characteristics as most of them are highly cross pollinated.
2. Genetic improvement: Different approaches like hybridization, mutation and irradiation process will be used to create variability in the existing germplasm.
3. Mass multiplication: Nursery techniques for mass multiplication of quality planting materials will be standardized both for vegetative and seed propagation. Protocol for mass multiplication by tissue culture will be standardized for various biofuel species.
4. Agro- techniques: Production technologies like density, nutritional requirement, pruning levels, harvest and post harvest operations and suitability for agroforestry systems will be standardized.
5. Nursery: A large scale nursery (5 lakh) at each taluka will be established for important and potential species of that area, which in turn will be used for establishment of plantations. The local farmers / SHGs will be given responsibility for nursery raising.
6. Model plantation: A model plantation (5-10 ha each) will be established in each taluka with all standard practices, so as to act as a model for the farming community. The local farmers will be trained regularly in establishment of plantations.
7. Oil expelling unit: An oil expelling unit of suitable capacity will be established at taluka level with all standard post harvest techniques. So that the produce in that area is crushed within the taluka and the cake goes back to the field as biofertilizer.
8. Transesterification: Transesterification plants will be established in each district. The esterified oil-Biodiesel so produced can go back to the farming community for their own requirement.
9. Markting: A marked net work on milk federation mode will be established so that the growers are fully involved. It creates interest among farmers to establish more biofuel plantation and also collect seeds from established trees.
10. Training: Training programmes on nursery techniques, plantation establishment, harvest and post harvest technology, expelling, esterification and use of biofuel will be conducted for both farmers and extension officers.
11.
Exposure visit of scientists involved in biofuel research to institutions /
laboratories with latest technology.
BUDGET
REQUIREMENT OF PROJECT (Rs.in lakhs)