Jatropha tales

In India, the government is subsidizing a program to plant jatropha for biofuels on 27 million acres of “wastelands.” Farmers see it as a chance to grow rich given the surging demand for liquid fuel. But now, a new study shows that the ‘oil-rich’ crop jatropha, actually requires more water than other food and biofuel crops.

According to the report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it requires five times as much water per unit as corn and sugarcane, and 10 times as much water as sugar beet, the most water-efficient biofuel crop.

Not just that, but, as recently reported in Yale Environment 360, the results show that just because jatropha can grow in arid places doesn’t mean the plant will produce much oil. To flourish, the plant needs good growing conditions just like any other plant, said study co-author.

Perhaps with the new minister at the helm of the MoEF, it is time to wake up to realities. Else it may become a case of jumping from one crisis to another.