Bare facts about poisonous Jatropha curcas. by Pankaj Oudhia
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Bare facts about poisonous Jatropha curcas.by
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| Contributor:Dr. Pankaj Oudhia QA and TEM | eResDocs Formal report Free form Table of Contents Display Full eArticle | ID: 877 |
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| Abstract |
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| Jatropha curcas is under promotion as biodiesel plant in many countries. Common people are not much aware about the facts associated with this poisonous weedy plant. This article is an effort to present these bare facts. |
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| Bare Facts |
| Related Links |
| Recent Hindi Article on negative aspects of Jatropha. [Source : http://kisanokeliye.blogspot.com/2007/09/blog-post_29.html] |
| References |
| Bare Facts | Return To Table of Contents |
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| Myth. Jatropha is not attacked by insects as it repels all insects. Fact. Like other plants, many insects and diseases infest Jatropha and cause much damage. It repels certain insects not all. Myth. Jatropha is Indian plant. Fact. The place of origin of Jatropha is Tropical America. Myth. Jatropha is only promising source of Biodiesel. Fact. There are thousands of sources for Biodiesel. Indian scientists have prepared the list of over 300 potential species for biodiesel. Most of these species are indigenous. Biodiesel can be prepared by plastic, and even by weeds like Cassia tora and Calotropis gigantea without investment of millions and causing damage to environment like large scale Jatropha plantation. Myth. Jatropha monoculture is ecofriendly. Fact. Any monoculture is harmful to nature. Nature likes diversity. Jatropha monoculture has been declared as future natural disaster by environmentalists. In India there is plan to raise Jatropha monoculture in over 84 thousand hactares. In Sanskrit it is mentioned that 'Ati Sarvatra varjayete'. Excess of any thing is bad. Myth. Jatropha seed oil is safe for human skin. Fact. Carcinogenic properties of Jatropha are well documented. Internet is full of information on this aspect. The reseachers of Thailand found in year 1987 that Jatropha oil contains tumour promoting substances. Native poeple around the world know that Jatropha oil is harmful for skin. This is the reason it is also known as 'Hell oil'. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1987 Mar;78(3):223-6. Presence of tumor promoters in the seed oil of Jatropha curcas L. from Thailand. Horiuchi T, Fujiki H, Hirota M, Suttajit M, Suganuma M, Yoshioka A, Wongchai V, Hecker E, Sugimura T. Myth. Jatropha grows without care. Fact. Like other commerical plantations Jatropha also requires care. No or less care means poor production. More care means increase in cost of production. Higher cost of production means costly seed oil. During summer in India over 60 percent mortality has been observed in Jatropha plantation raised with no care. Myth. Jatropha is not a weed. Fact. Jatropha holds a status of weed in many countries including Australia. The research is in progress to manage this weed through different methods including weedicides. Crop protection compendium pulbished by CABI, UK gives much scientific information regarding its weedy nature and economical losses caused by it in different countries. Ignoring these scientific facts many countries including India are permitting plantation of this weedy species in thousands of hactares. RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Reject, Score: 11 Myth. Jatropha plantation is not harmful to soil. Fact. Like many weedy species Jatropha Allelochemicals are harmful for soil specially in case of monoculture. There are research works showing harmful effects of JatrophaAllelochemicals on Indian crops like Pigeonpea. These Allelochemicals are harmful to native flora specially microflora. Large scale plantation may result in negative impact on soil. Without evaluating harm causing potential of Jatropha green signal is given for its plantation. Wasteland where Jatropha plantation is in progress, supports lives of billions of microflora and fauna. Negative impact on it means direct impact on ecosystem. Myth. Jatropha seed oil fumes are safe for human lungs. Fact. The native people using Jatropha oil fumes as insect repellent always cover nose in order to avoid inhalation. Jatropha planners claim that fumes are safe but there is no scientific study available on this aspect. There is a need for long term studies on human beings as well as on livestock and plants before giving green signal to its large scale plantation and use as biodiesel. Myth. Jatropha seeds are not liked by children. Fact. Unfortunately Jatropha seeds are much liked by children and accidental feeding cases have been reported from different countries. On-going large scale plantation is becoming curse for rural children. In India local news papers publish these accidental feedings very commonly. "Two seeds are strong purgative. Four to five seed are said to have caused death. Bark, fruit, leaf, root, and wood are all reported to contain HCN. Seeds contain the dangerous toxalbumin curcin, rendering them potentially fatally toxic. "- the world literatures report. In India many states are planting it in school compounds. More number of accidental feeding cases indicates that planners have failed to aware the common people about its toxicity. Myth. Jatropha is not harmful to fish. Fact. Jatropha bark is popularly used as fish poison. Research by German scientists have shown that common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L) is very sensitive to phorbol esters of Cyprinus carpio L. Large scale plantation of Jatropha specially near water bodies may cause great harm to fish species. Detailed studies are required before starting such plantations. Myth. Jatropha biodiesel is cheaper than diesel and other biodiesel. Fact. At present due to higher seed cost and poor poduction Jatropha biodiesel is costlier than both diesel and other biodiesel sources. Lower seed cost is key for success but lower seed cost means poor returns to the Jatropha farmers. In India farmers are raising it to sell its seeds. Higher the cost of seeds higher will be the return. Poor production is another constraint. Research organisations are in process of developing high yielding varieties and for its testing in different agro-climatic situations atleast ten years are required. Ignoring this important fact planners are planting poor yielding Jatropha. It will damage the ecosystem and also we will not get sufficient biodiesel in future. When biodiesel is prepared from waste and weeds there is no cultivation cost like in case of Jatropha. Obviously the cost of such biodiesel is far less than Jatropha biodiesel. Similarly biodiesel prepartion from trees already present in any country like Karanj is also much cheaper than Jatropha biodiesel. Myth. Farmers can plant Jatropha in Badi (Homestead or kitchen Garden) for biodiesel production. Fact. As we know Jatropha is poisonous plant and harmful to humanbeings specially to children, livestock and other animals. Hence it must be planted far from human population. Native Indian people are well aware of its toxic nature and therefore it is always planted far from home. There is no such limitation with indigenous biodiesel sources. Many grow inBadi as trees and as weeds in crop fields and wastelands. Myth. Jatropha gives yield of 12 (and more) tons seeds per acre after six years of plantation. Fact. Well managed irrigated and heavily manured crop gives maximum 4- 5 ton seeds per acre. When Jatropha is planted in wasteland without care it gives poor yield of 1.0 to 1.5 tons (or less) of seeds. In regions of heavy rainfall seed setting is poor. To present Jatropha as very profitable crop and to sell plants to farmers many agenicies are making the claims of very high yield. Jatropha is planted in higher spacing for good growth but you will find the suggestions of 2 by 2 meters spacing. Less spacing means more crowding and more crowding means more competion for nutrients, light and moisture and finally poor yield. Every one in fooling common people in the name of Jatropha. Myth. Jatropha is suitable for all parts of India. Fact. Experts have prepared Jatropha plantation map for India. They have left the desert and the food basin regions. This map suggests that very limited area should be used for Jatropha plantation. Experts around the world also give emphasis on use of mix plantation rather than monoculture and give preference to indigenous species. Ignoring these facts planners are planting Jatropha in almost all parts of India. In many states farmers are planting it in fertile soil by replacing profitable food crops. According to the experts Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are having fertile soil and Jatropha plantation is unviable for these states. You will find Jatropha plantations in these states. That is why the weed experts are seeing it as future ''super weed'' of India. Myth. Jatropha can give good production in desert. Fact. Jatropha is drought resistant plant and can grow in 'desert like situation' not in desert. That is why the experts have left the Indian desert for plantation of Jatropha. It is not viable in desert. Myth. Jatropha can give good production without irrigation as it is drought resistant plant. Fact. Like other drought resistant plants Jatropha also requires care and irrigation specially during establishment phase. After establishment it can tolerate drought up to certain period. It is less drought resistant than Cactus and for growth Cactus also requires water. Jatropha gives positive response to irrigation. That is why in irrigated condition the yield is far higher than Jatropha depending on rainfall. There is a need to keep this fact in mind that there is much difference between Growing and good production. Any plant may grow in any situation but can not give good production in all situations. For good production it requires specific situation. Myth. Press is in support of Jatropha promotion. Fact. World Press is keeping close view on on-going Jatropha promotion. News from both sides are coming regularly. In fact the campaign 'Say No To Jatropha' got momentum by their support. As you know this campaign is a part of CG net (http://www.cgnet.in), the successful example of citizen journalism. Through this group information about poisonous Jatropha is spreading around the world. Many articles have appeared in BBC Hindi, Indian Express, India Today, Down to Earth, One World South Asia and many other popular magazines and news papers. Myth. Indian trains are running by Jatropha biodiesel. Fact. As trial authorities have tried to run Indian trains only few times (for limited distance and by adding 5 to 10 percent Jatropha biodiesel in conventional diesel) but Indian trains are not running through Jatropha biodiesel. Many experts believe that these trials were for publicity and support to the Jatropha promoters only as railway is having enough biodiesel to run their atleast some trains through it. High cost of Jatropha biodiesel than diesel (please look at Gujarat story in previous messages) is one of the constraints. Also authorities are much worried about its bad impact on engines. New development Local newspapers in Chhattisgarh especially Dainik Bhaskar reported on December 26, 2006 that railway has dropped the plan to run biodiesel train between Raipur and Dhamtari. According to this report Jatropha Biodiesel is affecting the performance of engine. There is need to modify engine according to Jatropha which is not possible at this stage. Railway mixed 5 percent Biodiesel in commercial diesel and it resulted in this failure. It is big blow to Jatropha promoters. Still they are not sure about its performance and without confirming it, the large-scale plantation of Jatropha is in progress in full swing. Myth. Jatropha monoculture is not harmful to livestock. Fact. In general Jatropha is planted as live fence by natives in order to keep cattle as well as wild animals away from crop fields. In India wasteland, where Jatropha monoculture is in progress, acts as grazing land for cattle. Jatropha monoculture is suppressing the growth of native grasses and preventing the cattle to enter in these lands. The cattle owners have no option for it. This monoculture is increasing the chances of force feeding. Accidental feeding of poisonous Jatropha and death of cattle have been reported in many countries. Experts believe that Jatropha monoculture will increase the cases of accidental feeding. Without prodiving alternatives to thousands of cattle owners planners are planting Jatropha in grazing lands, by declaring it as wasteland. |
| Related Links | Return To Table of Contents |
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| Recent Hindi Article on negative aspects of Jatropha. [Source : http://kisanokeliye.blogspot.com/2007/09/blog-post_29.html] | Return To Table of Contents |
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| Article is typed in Unicode and if you have any problem go to 'view' and then select 'Character Encoding' and finally select Unicode. Through Google Tools you can translate this article in almost any world language including Chinese and Arabian. आखिर रंग दिखाना शुरू कर ही दिया जैट्रोफा (रतनजोत) ने - पंकज अवधिया बर्मा मे हो रहे जन-प्रदर्शनो के विषय मे हम सब जानते है। पिछले दिनो जब विश्व के प्रतिष्ठित अखबारो ने यह समाचार छापा कि इस आक्रोश के पीछे जैट्रोफा की असफलता भी है तो इस विषय मे विस्तार से जानने का मन हुआ। खोज-बीन से पता चला कि डीजल की माँग बढते देखकर बर्मा के सैनिक शासको ने बडे पैमाने पर जैट्रोफा लगाने का फरमान जारी किया। योजना थी कि बायोडीजल न केवल देश मे उपयोग किया जायेगा बल्कि विदेशो मे इसे बेचकर आय अर्जित की जायेगी। सम्भवत: उन्हे भी लुभावने सब्जबाग दिखाये गये होंगे। जब फसल तैयार हुयी तो विकसित अधो-संरचना न होने के कारण बायोडीजल निकालना मुश्किल हो गया। कुछ मात्रा मे बायोडीजल निकाला गया तो बर्मा के डीजल इंजन खराब होने लगे। अत: इस पर भी रोक लग गई। इस बायोडीजल के लिये कोई विदेशी खरीददार नही मिला। चूँकि सभी तरह की जमीन मे भारत की ही तरह इसे लगाया गया था इसलिये अन्न उत्पादन पर सीधा असर पडा। बेकार जमीन मे जैट्रोफा लग जाने के कारण पशु चारा कम हो गया। थक-हार कर सैनिक शासन को बाहर से अधिक कीमत पर डीजल मंगाना पडा। डीजल के दाम बढे तो लोग सडक पर आ गये। यह पूरी जानकारी रोंगटे खडी करने वाली है क्योकि ऐसा ही प्रयोग भारत मे भी चल रहा है बहुत बडे पैमाने पर। एक ओर जहाँ जैट्रोफा का समर्थन करने वाले लगातार सम्मेलनो और नये लोगो को फाँसने मे लगे है वही भारतीय धरती पर इस विदेशी पौधे को फैलते देखकर प्रकृति प्रेमी देशी पौधो की चिंता मे घुल रहे है। इस वर्ष देश के मध्य भाग मे जमकर बरसात हुई है। यह बरसात जैट्रोफा के लिये कयामत साबित हो रही है। कम से कम 10 प्रकार के कीटो और रोगो का आक्रमण इस पर देखा जा रहा है। इनमे से दो तरह के कीट तो पौधो को काफी हद तक नष्ट करने का माद्दा रखते है। ये बीज उत्पादन पर सीधा असर डालते है। कई सरकारे रोपणियो मे उपलब्ध क़ीटनाशको का प्रयोग किया जा रहा है। पर समस्या बढती ही जा रही है। छत्तीसगढ मे विषाणु जनित रोग नाक मे दम किये है। इतने सारे कीट और रोग उन दावो की हवा निकाल रहे है जिनमे जैट्रोफा को क़ीटो और रोगो से मुक्त बताया जा रहा था। सबसे बुरी हालत तो उन किसानो की है जिन्होने अपनी परम्परागत फसल के स्थान पर इसे लगा लिया है। क़ीटनाशको का प्रयोग दिन-ब-दिन खेती की कीमत बढा रहा है। जैट्रोफा समर्थक तो कब से पौधे बेचकर रफूचक्कर हो चुके। उन्हे भला क्या चिंता किसानो और उनके दर्द की। जैट्रोफा के प्रचार के आरम्भिक दिनो मे ही झाँसी के वैज्ञानिको ने शोध-पत्र प्रकाशित कर यह जता दिया था कि कीटो को अनदेखा नही किया जा सकता। अन्य विशेषज्ञो ने भी आशंका व्यक्त की है कि जैट्रोफा पर आक्रमण करने वाले बहुत से कीट परम्परागत फसलो के क़ीट है। बडी संख्या मे आस-पास जैट्रोफा की उपस्थिति इन क़ीटो की शरणस्थली बन सकती है और किसान अपनी मुख्य फसल मे कितना भी उपचार करे क़ीट तो शरणस्थली से आते ही रहेंगे। ठीक पडोसी देश के आतंकवादी शिविरो जैसे। ऐसी स्थिति निश्चित ही भारतीय किसानो के लिये अभिशाप बन जायेगी। जैट्रोफा की आबादी का देशी वनस्पतियो पर क्या प्रभाव पड रहा है यह जानने के लिये मै पिछले कुछ वर्षो से देश के विभिन्न भागो मे अध्ययन और सर्वेक्षण के लिये जाता रहा हूँ। जमीनी स्तर पर काम करने से मुझे 550 प्रकार की ऐसी वनस्पतियो के विषय मे पता चला है जिनपर जैट्रोफा का नकारात्मक प्रभाव सीधा पडता है। इनमे से ज्यादातर वनस्पतियाँ पारम्परिक चिकित्सा तंत्रो मे आमतौर पर प्रयोग होती है। यह बुरी खबर है कि जैट्रोफा का नकारात्मक प्रभाव गाजरघास पर नही पडता है। दोनो को मजे से साथ मे उगते देखा जा सकता है। बहुत से पौधो पर जैट्रोफा का सकारात्मक प्रभाव भी देखा गया है। चारो ओर जैट्रोफा के बढते साम्राज्य को देखकर पारम्परिक चिकित्सको के मन मे आशंकाओ के बादल उमड रहे है। तो जैट्रोफा ने अपने असली रंग दिखाने आरम्भ कर दिये है। पर इनसे बेपरवाह जैट्रोफा समर्थक अपने स्वप्न लोक मे खोये हुये है। जितने पौधे मरेंगे उतना ही अच्छा है उनके लिये क्योकि उतने ही नये पौधो की खरीद होगी और भ्रष्टाचार का एक और मौका उन्हे मिलेगा। कई राज्यो मे जैट्रोफा के बीजो को एकत्र कर लाने की अपीले अखबारो मे छप रही है। ये सरकारी विभाग है जो अपने आकाओ को खुश करना चाहते है। आम लोग बीजो को एकत्र करने इस पौधे के पास जायेंगे और हर बार की तरह इसके घातक रसायनो के सम्पर्क मे आयेंगे। इससे कैसर होने की बात तो सारा जगत जानता है। सरकारी विभाग भी जानते है। तभी तो उन्होने यह काम दूसरो को सौपा है। (लेखक कृषि वैज्ञानिक है और वनौषधियो से सम्बन्धित पारम्परिक चिकित्सकीय ज्ञान के दस्तावेजीकरण मे जुटे है।) © सर्वाधिकार सुरक्षित Links of Recent Articles in this blog http://kisanokeliye.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-post_07.html http://kisanokeliye.blogspot.com/2007/12/blog-post_16.html |
| References | Return To Table of Contents |
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| Oudhia P. (2005) Jatropha curcas. Oudhia P. (2006) Banjar Bhoomi Ka Ratanjot kyon Ropa Ja Raha Hai Upjau Kheton Main? (Recommended for wasteland why Jatropha is under planting in fertile crop fields?)- Hindi Article. Oudhia P. (2004) Jatropha Fever. Oudhia P. (2006) Aiye Jane Jatropha ke vishay main nagan satyon ko. (Let us know the bare facts about Jatropha.) - Hindi Article. Oudhia P. (2006) Videshi paudhe Ratanjot (Jatropha) ke pichhe yaha andhi daud kis liye? ( Why there is blind race for foreign plant Jatropha?)- Hindi Article. Oudhia P. (2006) Kitna kum jante hain Ratanjot ke himayati is videshi paudhe ke bare main. (Jatropha promoters know very less about this foreign plant.)- Hindi Article. Oudhia P. (2006) Kyo sava hai deshi Karanj videshi Ratanjot pur? (Why indigenous Karanj is better than exotic Jatropha?)- Hindi Article. Oudhia P. (2006) Karanj banam Ratanjot : Desi banam Videshi. (Karanj vs. Jatropha : Indigenous vs. Exotic)- Hindi Article Oudhia P. (2006) Kyon chhupayi jaa rahi hai Bhartiya krishi se sambandhit khabarain? [Sandarbha: Ghatia Australiai Gahun aur Jahrila Jatropha] Why news related to IndianAgriculture are sensored? [Reference: Import of poor quality Australian wheat and poisonous Jatropha]-Hindi Article. Oudhia P. (2007) Samne aane lage hain jaharile Ratanjot aur iske vyapak ropan ke dushparinam. (Harmful effects of Jatropha and its large scale plantation are now coming on surface.) Oudhia P. (2006) Kaun kharidega Ratanjot? (Who will buy Ratanjot?)- Hindi Article. Meshram PB Joshi KC (1994) A new report of Spodoptera litura (Fab.) Boursin (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as a pest of Jatropha curcas Linn. El Badwi SMA Adam SEI Hapke HJ (1995) Comparative toxicity of Ricinus communis and Jatropha curcas in Brown Hisex chicks. Grimm PC Maes JM (1997) Insects associated with physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) (Euphorbiaceae) in the Pacific region of Nicaragua. Phillips S (1975) A new record of Pestalotiopsis versicolor on the leaves of Jatropha curcas. Grimm C (1996) Utilization of a life table to quantify damages caused by insects on Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) fruits. Grimm C (1999) Evaluation of damage to physic nut (Jatropha curcas) by true bugs. Dhyani S.K. (2006) Insect pests of Jatropha curcas L. and the potential for their management Abdu-Aguye I A Sannusi R A Alafiya-Tayo S R Bhusnurmath (1986) Acute Toxicity Studies with Jatropha curcas L. Adam S E I. (1974) Toxic effects of Jatropha curcas in mice. Ahmed O M M S E I Adam (1979) Effects of Jatropha curcas on Calves. Aplin T E H (1976) Poisonous Garden Plants and Other Plants Harmful to Man in Australia. Barri M E S T O Onsa A A Elawad N Y Elsayed I A Wasfi E M Abdul Bari S E I Adam (1983) Toxicity of Five Sudanese Plants to Young Ruminants. Consroe P F Glow D E. (1975) Clinical Toxicology of the Desert Potato : Two Case Reports of Acute Jatropha Macrorhiza Root Ingestion. Ho Richard K B. (1960) Acute Poisoning From the Ingestion of Seeds of Jatropha Curcas. Horiuchi T H Fujiki M Hirota M Suttajit M Suganuma A Yoshioka V Wongchai E Hecker T Sugimura (1987) Presence of tumor promoters in the seed oil of Jatropha curcas L. from Thailand. Joubert P H J M M Brown I T Hay P D B Sebata. (1984) Acute poisoning with Jatropha curcas (purging nut tree) in children. Lampe Fagerstrom. (1968) Plant Toxicity and Dermatitis - A Manual for Physicians. |
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