The working group on risk management in
Box-6:Bio-fuels for higher farm incomes and rural energy security
Download 0.68 Mb. View original pdf
|
| Box-6: Bio-fuels for higher farm incomes and rural energy security • Jatropha for higher farm incomes and rural energy security • Bio-fuels are renewable liquid fuels coming from biological raw materials and have been proved to be good substitutes for oil in the transportation sector. As such bio- fuels – ethanol and bio-diesel – are gaining worldwide acceptance as a solution to environmental problems, energy security, reducing imports, rural employment and improving agricultural economy. • Bio-diesel is made from vegetable oils (both edible & non-edible) and animal fats through trans-esterification and is a diesel substitute and requires very little or no engine modifications up to 20% blend and minor modification for higher percentage blends. The use of bio-diesel results insubstantial reduction of un-burnt hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matters. It has almost no sulphur, no aromatics and has about 10% builtin oxygen, which helps it to burn fully. Its higher cetane number improves the combustion. • Sunflower and rapeseed are the raw materials used in Europe whereas soyabean is used in USA. Thailand uses palm oil, Ireland uses frying oil and animal fats. India proposes large scale cultivation of Jatropha for meeting the demand for bio-diesel by establishing a National Mission on Bio-diesel. • Jatropha is non – browsable by cattle and animals and hence, its cultivation in areas with high biotic pressure, can betaken up without any risk. • Jatropha and other bio-fuel trees can be cultivated in a wide variety of soils. Hence, they can be readily grown in wastelands and lands with lower productivity. • Jatropha being a drought tolerant crop, can withstand long spells of drought. Thus, the risk of total crop failure and replanting is minimized to a great extent. • The shelf life of the economic produce of Jatropha i.e, seeds for the purpose of oil extraction is considerably long. • Jatropha normally yields twice a year and in case of well managed plantations, in addition to the normal two harvests, an additional harvest is very much possible. Thus, the risk / uncertainty, pertaining to sustained yield is significantly reduced. • Economic yield in Jatropha commences from the fifth years after planting. However, during the initial years, intercrops can be cultivated in between rows of Jatropha. Jatropha is compatible with a wide range of agricultural crops, and the income from the intercrops provides substantial returns. • Decentralized energy production through captive Jatropha plantations in rural areas will have beneficial impact on socioeconomic conditions in the rural areas. • Bio-fuels (ethanol and bio-diesels) will create significantly higher demand for agricultural commodities which will enable farmers to have stable income source including through higher commodity prices. • Second generation bio-fuels based on cellulose contained in low value biomass sources such as agriculture crop residues from maize, wheat, rice as well as residues from pasture and forests when commmercialised would generate employment on farm as well as in bio-fuel value change, reduce energy cost for farmers and would ensure rural energy security in the country. |