Biofuel Production

Introduction of Alternative Crop as Jatropha

In 2003, the Government of India had introduced a scheme for Alternative Crops with the following objectives: -Employment Generation -Wasteland Development – Fossil Fuel Import Reduction A credit-linked back ended subsidy Scheme was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India through the NOVOD [National Oil Seeds and Vegetable Oil Development

Jatropha is considered to be drought tolerant and possible to cultivate on degraded, sandy and saline soils with low nutrient content.

Nitrogen and phosphorous inputs may be required for high yields 13,31,36 but nutrient re circulates through the leaf fall reduces the need for fertilizer input. It is estimated that three-year old Jatropha plants return about 21 kg Nitrogen per hectare back to the soil, although the quantity and nutrient content of the fallen leaves from the Jatropha plant vary with plant age and fertilizer application. Jatropha can be grown in broad spectrum of rainfall regimes, from 300 to 3000 mm, either in the fields as a commercial crop or as hedges along the field boundaries to protect other plants from grazing animals and to prevent erosion .

Jatropha has its native distributional range in Mexico, C. America and part of S. America, but has today a pan tropical distribution. Productivity of Jatropha depends on precipitation rates, soil moisture availability, soil characteristics including fertility, genetics, plant age and various management factors like pruning, fertilization, and disease control. Annual yield levels at 2-3 tons dry seeds has been proposed as achievable in semi-arid areas and on wastelands, while 5 tons /ha can be obtained with good management on good soils receiving 900-1200 mm average annual rainfall reported potential Jatropha yields as high as 7-8 tons dry seed/ ha/year-. The decorticated seeds yield about 28-40% oil which can be trans esterified and used for producing biodiesel.

Jatropha (Jatrophacurcas L.), commonly known as “purging nut” or “physic nut”, is a tropical, perennial deciduous,

There is limited knowledge about the actual water requirement of Jatropha in different agro-ecological regions.

However minimum and optimum rainfall to produce harvestable Jatropha fruits is assessed as 500- 600 and 1000-1500 mm/ yr in arid and semi-arid tropics, respectively3,12 In India, rapid urbanization coupled with industrialization and economic growth drives increasing energy demand and substantial import of crude petroleum oil. Since beginning of the 1990s India’s oil imports has increased more than five-fold and has considerable influence on the country’s foreign exchange expenditures. The Indian economy is expected to continue to grow with resulting further increase in energy demand and rising oil imports, projected to reach 166 and 622 million tons by 2019 and 2047, respectively, which can be compared to the 110.85 million tons of crude oil that was imported in 2006-07.

Jatropha (Jatrophacurcas L.), commonly known as “purging nut” or “physic nut”, is a tropical, perennial deciduous, C3 plant belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. It adapted to perform best under conditions of warm temperatures and, as with many members of the family Euphorbiaceae, contains compounds that are highly toxic

AHIMSA in Bio Diesel Production

AHIMSA has been cultivating Jatropha through its Farmers Clubs in all over Tamil Nadu. The Farmers Club members cultivating that bio diesel plants in 60,000 acres and gives annual yields of 12,000 tons. AHIMSAs’ Endeavour has also been appreciated by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and aided to establish a Bio Diesel Extraction Industry and a Bio Diesel Laboratory at Dindigul. Number of experts from various states in India and

foreign nations visited to AHIMSA Project areas and Bio Diesel Industry and appreciating the efforts and gives their moral supports too. The produced bio diesel has been supplied to the Ministry of Defence and the Railways department.

While we planted 6.5 crore saplings to start with to cover 6.5 crore population of Tamil Nadu, the seedlings selected for the Tree planting program were:

- - Jatropha
  - Pungamia
  - Neem

The seedlings namely Jatropha, Pungamia and Neem were planted according to the soil condition of a particular location. The produces from these plants are processed for their bio-fuel as well as medicinal values. The required seedlings were produced with the help of our Women self-help groups in 42 districts throughout Tamil Nadu for the tree planting programme. The planting of 6.5 crore seedlings will be carried out by AHIMSA’s Volunteers, unemployed youth, labourers, NSS Students from various colleges, School students and also Multi-National Companies as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility

AHIMSA and Daimler Mercedes Benz Joint Venture Initiative

As per our Project Plan, Jatropha cultivation started in 1,000 acres of lands in the selected three villages (Kodiyalam, Koodalur and Theyarmadam) of ThellarPanchayat Union, VandhavasiTaluk, Thiruvannamalai District for alternative fuel production and proposed to create a ‘Model Jatropha Farm’ with the support of German Motor Company, Daimler Mercedes Benz

The farmers who have planted jatropha during the years 2003-2006 have now started harvesting jatropha seeds. We are purchasing the seeds @ Rs 20,000/-Ton based on the current market rate as on today. Last year productions was 4210 Ton. Due to seasonal climatic changes and severe drought production has decreased and we were able to procure only 41.552 Ton. Seeing the increased yield and high price farmers were motivated in taking up the more cultivation. But farmers are now losing interest now a days due to the drought and unfavorable climate conditions.

We were supplying the seeds to Central Government departments like Railways Defense and also to private oil companies and organizations with 10% service charges to the production rate to meet our administrative expenses. We were producing Bio–Diesel in our Dindigul industrial unit. As per our Project estimates, we should have earned Rs.24,10,050/- with the productions of 41552 Kg. of seeds. Anticipating for this achievement, we wanted to invest on getting huge loan amount. But, Due to heavy drought the production was reduced we were able to achieve only

41.552 Tons. Through this we have earned a profit of Rs 24,10,050/- only. The revenue earned through our Agri Division for the year 2017-18 was Rs.4,36,42,750/-.

Now Dindigul unit has been shifted to Arakkonam. Soon it will start functioning.