New observations related to Jatropha failure in India. by Pankaj Oudhia
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New observations related to Jatropha failure in India.by
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| Contributor:Dr. Pankaj Oudhia QA and TEM | eResDocs Formal report Free form Table of Contents Display Full eArticle | ID: 3097 |
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| Abstract |
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| Jatropha is performing badly not only in Central India but also in other parts of India. The article is an effort to present recent observations on this aspect. |
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| New Observations |
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| New Observations | Return To Table of Contents |
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| During recent field visits to different Jatropha plantations of Central India I noted that production is very low. Many factors are responsible for low production. In most of the plantations it was raised without any care. In places where rainfall is good especially during flowering, due to poor seed setting production is low. This is the reason researchers have warned the planners to take special precaution while selecting suitable spots for Jatropha plantation. They suggested that fertile zones also known as food zones must be kept free from this exotic plant. Its plantation either in field by replacing food crops or in bunds and wasteland by creating problem of survival for native species used as medicine and fodder, can lead to big disaster. But planners ignored it and planted Jatropha in zones not suitable for it. Non-availability of good varieties is also an important factor. Few days back I was invited for sharing my views on poisonous Jatropha in National Biofuel Consultation organized by Deccan Development Society, Hyderabad and GRAIN, UK. During other presentations an eminent Agricultural scientist from CRIDA informed that as Jatropha is exotic plant and after introduction remained in specific pockets it is hard to get variations within it. Variations help the breeders to develop new varieties. According to him this is one of the reasons that even after long time researchers are not having improved Jatropha varieties. When Jatropha hype reached to the planting material suppliers they sold inferior material at high cost to the authorities and as result poor quality Jatropha is present every where in name of biodiesel plantations. These plantations benefited few but are becoming curse for generations. It is not wrong to say that it is not less than big scam. The scientists from CRIDA clearly said on the question of suitability of Jatropha as biodiesel crop that give researchers ten years. They will check it through different scientific trials and after this duration able to suggest whether it is suitable for India or not? But no one is having patience to wait for these trials. Planners made hype and planting material suppliers spread rumors about it. As result now this so-called wonder crop is becoming blunder crop. I am continuously writing articles about increasing pest infestation in Jatropha in Central India especially in Chhattisgarh. But still news clippings around the world are claiming that Jatropha is a crop free from pest. During visit to Hyderabad I got opportunity to visit private Jatropha plantations. During visit it was surprising to smell heavy amount of pesticides in plantation. The caretakers informed that there is instruction to apply pesticides twice a week. Most of the pesticides were very strong in action. They informed that the plantations owners are interested in supply of planting material. Plantations must be good looking so that farmers and other government buyers can get impression that it is fast growing plant. Obviously application of pesticides is increasing cost of production. If you calculate the real cost of this only input you will find that alone this input can make this crop as non-profitable crop. I decided to visit the plantations at dusk in order to collect insects. The caretakers warned that no one is allowed in plantation for this activity. I decided to perform this insect collection process in nearby wasteland outside the plantation. But as many other crops were there the possibility of error was there. I took pictures and decided to visit again in coming days. You will find these pictures very soon at Ecoport. Although planners are making big claims but now it is established fact that Jatropha is not a crop free from pest. It is sensitive to pest and in order to get good production pest management is required. As mentioned earlier as the researchers has yet not done research on this aspect the Jatropha growers have no way except to use the agrochemicals used in traditional crops. Now through this fact bad face of large scale Jatropha plantation is again coming in front of us. In India alone there is plan to plant Jatropha in over 84 thousand hectares. Application of pesticides in this large area means unrecoverable damage to environment. It will pollute the ground water. The disaster has been started. I also got opportunity to visit Jatropha plantations of Maharashtra especially near Pune city. Here many farmers have planted it in order to get maximum benefit without any investment, as promised by Jatropha suppliers. But later they found that it is white elephant i.e. require much care. In one day visit I collected over 10 species of insects from plantations. Four species were well known polyphagus insects which feed on major agricultural crops. As crops were not in field these insects were flourishing in Jatropha plantations. In National Consultation participants from different corners of India raised their voice against promotion of this obnoxious weed. As its promotion is in progress throughout India I feel that I must travel to different corners in order to study harmful effects it is causing on biodiversity especially on native flora. These studies will help the activists concerned with this problem to present their views with strong evidences. Keep reading my research articles at Ecoport for updates. |
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| Bare facts about poisonous Jatropha curcas. |
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