News Release Details
High on bio-fuel, states line up production plans
New Delhi 04-Sep-2007
Taking cue from the Planning Commission's suggestion for large-scale jatropha plantation for bio-fuel production, states are now setting their own targets. The Planning Commission has suggested jatropha cultivation on 400,000 hectares for four years in the first phase and in2.5 million hectares in the second phase for meeting the need for 10%dopingof auto-fuel. From September this year, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and the Maharashtra State Farming Corporation will undertake jatropha plantation on 500 acres in Nasik and Aurangabad-The State Bank of India has signed an MoU with DI Mohan Bio Oils Ltd to give loans to contracted farmers to the tune of Rs 1.3 billion for jatropha plantation. The Tamil Nadu government has entered into contracts with Mohan Breweries and Distilleries, Shiva Distilleries, Dharani Sugars and Chemicals and River way Agro Products for large-scale jatropha plantation in the state. It has also abolished purchase tax on the crop. The Orissa government last week formulated a policy to encourage plantation of jatropha and karanjaon20lakhhectares of degrade land. The state government has announced incentives for panchayat, cooperatives, self-help groups (SHGs) and fanners undertaking large scale cultivation of bio-fuel crops. The policy claims bio-fuel crop plantation would not only help production of 14.000 kilolitre of the fuel but also produce 42,000 tonne of organic matter for soil fertility and create 100 million manday jobs. However, the state' policy has come under fire from civil society groups who say it would amount to diversion of land from food crops to fuel, thus en-dangering food security.
New Delhi 04-Sep-2007
Taking cue from the Planning Commission's suggestion for large-scale jatropha plantation for bio-fuel production, states are now setting their own targets. The Planning Commission has suggested jatropha cultivation on 400,000 hectares for four years in the first phase and in2.5 million hectares in the second phase for meeting the need for 10%dopingof auto-fuel. From September this year, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and the Maharashtra State Farming Corporation will undertake jatropha plantation on 500 acres in Nasik and Aurangabad-The State Bank of India has signed an MoU with DI Mohan Bio Oils Ltd to give loans to contracted farmers to the tune of Rs 1.3 billion for jatropha plantation. The Tamil Nadu government has entered into contracts with Mohan Breweries and Distilleries, Shiva Distilleries, Dharani Sugars and Chemicals and River way Agro Products for large-scale jatropha plantation in the state. It has also abolished purchase tax on the crop. The Orissa government last week formulated a policy to encourage plantation of jatropha and karanjaon20lakhhectares of degrade land. The state government has announced incentives for panchayat, cooperatives, self-help groups (SHGs) and fanners undertaking large scale cultivation of bio-fuel crops. The policy claims bio-fuel crop plantation would not only help production of 14.000 kilolitre of the fuel but also produce 42,000 tonne of organic matter for soil fertility and create 100 million manday jobs. However, the state' policy has come under fire from civil society groups who say it would amount to diversion of land from food crops to fuel, thus en-dangering food security.