Recommendation of Workshop & Exhibition on Biodiesel in North East

The workshop-cum-exhibition on ‘Biodiesel in the North East’ organised by the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) was held on 17th to 19th October, 2006 at Pragjyoti-ITA Centre for Performing Arts, Machkhowa, Guwahati. His Excellency the President of India Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam has inaugurated the workshop-cum-exhibition on 17th Oct, 2006 at 4.25 P.M. before a large gathering of eminent persons, school children and general public. The main workshop was held on 18th and 19th October, 2006 which was divided into three technical session viz. (i) Agro-technology and crop improvement; (ii) Marketing, Financing and association of other institutes/Organisation/ Govt. Agencies/NGOs etc.; (iii) Regulatory Framework and Policy Issues. After a threadbare discussions and interaction between the speakers and participants, following recommendations are emerged out which will form guidelines for furthering the Biodiesel Programmes in the North East.

1. It is recommended that region specific agro-technology of selected bio-diesel plants should be developed and for that matter extensive R&D works are to be undertaken to develop superior varieties from the existing indigenous strains till suitable high yielding variety / varieties are developed locally which may require sometime. To tide over this period, elite variety from other parts of the country may be sourced. In doing so care should be exercised to ensure that such varieties should be free from pest and disease with a view to minimize the possibilities of introducing exotic pest and diseases unknown to the region. Hence such variety should be tested in isolation and then tried out in the region though coordinated trials. This will help in identifying suitable varieties for various situations, problems of pest and diseases certified seed production should undertaken with top priority and cost of production to take up improvement programme through breeding etc. Crop improvement and development/ upgration of agro-techniques should be taken up in collaboration with SAU/ CAU/ NEDFi R & D Centre etc.

2. Application of biotechnology tools to develop jatropha variety/ varieties with water stagnation resistance characteristics is very much needed as most of no agriculture land of north east region are low lying with water logging condition. The lead taken by IITG in this regard is highly gratifying and efforts should continue till such a variety is developed which can resist water logged condition.

3. To ensure low cost processing system suitable at village/ farm level centrally located esterification plant of optimum capacity should be evolved. Diesel engine manufacturers are to be encouraged to develop to small engine or modify the exisiting diesel engine which can be run purely on unesterified vegetable oil for driving water pump set, husking mills, oil expeller, etc. in villages. Cheap technologies for detoxification of oil cake, feasibility of using organic catalyst like lipese instead of inorganic catalyst during esterification should be explored. Technology for processing of oil to biodiesel with multi product approach, that is to use other vegetable oils, other than jatropha oil in the same plant should be looked into. An integrated approach that should include the value addition to the bye products in processing of oil to biodiesel for economic benefit should be studied expensively. Local committees should be formed to select lands for Jatropha cultivation to ensure that no agricultural land or land having prospect for other cultivation are used. The members for the committee should be from State Department of Agriculture, State Forest Department, Gram Panchayat etc. Land thus selected should be earmarked for jatropha cultivation. Land utilization should be done tailed with suitable govt. policies.

4. It is felt that a model demonstration of 600 lit per capacity of biodiesel unit should be established in the region where technologies may be rested and demonstrated. Subsequently, this model unit may be replicated in the district head quarters of the region where jatropha oil would be available.

5. Custom duty and tax incentives should be given to biodiesel producers. Various countries like USA of tax benefits where it is $1/gallon ($0.26/litre) of tax. It is envisaged that there should be support biodiesel. In case diesel price goes down in the international market, biodiesel price should protected without effecting growers/ producers. While fixing biodiesel price there need not be any competition with petro-diesel since biodiesel is a ecofriendly fuel possessing many other advantages. Biodiesel should not be brought under Indian explosive act; rather it should be treated as a agricultural produce. Mandatory identifying of biodiesel with petro-diesel should be made.

6. Cost of seed production is not same in all the states, as such an uniform price for seed cannot be fixed, unless subsidy, exception duty etc. are considered.

7. It is recommended that integration of social and rural sector programme with biodiesel programme through public private panchayati raj participation(PPPP) model may be formulated by forming Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

8. Along with Jatropha and Pongamia, Nahar(Mesua Ferria) may be exploited. For this area specific programme may chalked out.

9. Introduction of academic courses on Bio-diesel in Agricultural Universities and Forest Collegees, Industrial trades in ITI such as oil extraction, by product exploration, oil esterification, value addition etc. may be framed. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in each state may be earmarked exclusively for biodiesel skill upgradation

10. Similarly, as a path finder for downstream industries, dye extraction, honey production, organic manures and pesticides production, animal feed manufacturer should be tried with a view to cost reduction on Jatropha cultivation and giving benefit to the farmers.

11. In order to popularize Jatropha / Pongamia plantation amongst the prospective farmers, SHG, NGO etc. concerned govt. officials, policy makers, progressive farmers, should be sent to some front ranking states of the country in Jatropha cultivation/ Jatropha Projects to get first hand knowledge/ exposures etc.

12. A regional biodiesel board for north east region may be constituted with experts from relevant fields. Similarly, state govts may set up biodiesel authority in their respective states to provide momentum to biodiesel programme. A nodel agency may be identified to coordinate and implement decisions.

13. Setting up one model centre as “Centre of excellance of biodiesel in North East”. The proposed biodiesel centre at Khetri may be targeted to Centre of excellance on bio-diesel for North East.

Besides, the above recommendations emerge out from the deliberation in the workshop the following recommendations offered by his excellency the President of India during his inaugural speech is given in annexture I.

Annexure –I

1. Elite seed development may take 7 to 8 years till such time the available local high yielding seeds of Jatropha may be used in different regions. Each state can encourage identification and multiplication of best Jatropha selection. Only superior accession should be multiplied and also the yield of samples should be revalidated and a national database of all superior accessions should be created at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi. Introduction and evaluation of germplasm from Jatropha producing countries can be taken up by NBPGR. Development of tissue culture protocol of Jatropha should be standardized and popularized.

2. State governments should prepare and implement seed development plants as per projected requirement of the next five years.

3. Each State should develop policies and mechanisms needed to regulate access to these lands for Jatropha plantation.

4. Immediate action is necessary to undertake detailed field surveys of pledged/ planted lands. Realistic assessment of type, kind as well as availability of land suitable for Jatropha Plantation based on agro-climatic conditions need to made jointly by the Ministry of Rural Development, Agriculture and Environment & Forests. Present Jatropha forest areas need to be maintained, improved and conserved by respective State Forest Departments.

5. Contract Farming through farmer’s co-operatives could be promoted for benefiting farmers and increasing bio-diesel production.

6. Jatropha information centers in every district should start soon. Existing infrastructure including KVKs could be utilized.

7. Cluster approach for large scale plantation of Jatropha planting could be promoted in clusters of 100hectares covering 10-15 villages. A bio-diesel plant of about 1 ton capacity per day could be installed for use. Corporate should be promoted for buy-back agreements, to promote Jatropha planting/ cultivation. About 50% of Bio-diesel obtained from each cluster should be distributed to villagers for use of villages.

8. At the national level, the setting up a National bio-fuel Mission is very urgent.

9. There is a need for an incentive pricing policy for Jatropha seed. This should be possible if there is no taxation on bio-diesel since it is an agricultural product and only 5-10% blend is being recommended at the moment. No taxation on bio-diesel on the pattern of tax holidays for a period of 10 years will help in the promotion of the programme. In order to promote Jatropha cultivation, National and State level awards may be given to progressive farmers and venturing bio-diesel producing companies.

10. The approach should be to promote large scale plantations with esterification at the national level and also small scale clusters at the village level. Linkages should be created between various rural development schemes, especially the minimum Employment Guarantee scheme of the Government of India and the Bio-fuel Mission.

NEDFi may like to take advantage of the above recommendations for promoting bio-diesel production in all the North Eastern states. Now, I would like to suggest some of the points which may help in promoting in accelerating the Jatropha production.