Jatropha be enlisted as an agricultural crop
The bio-fuel industry has suggested that jatropha be enlisted as an agricultural crop for availing loans from banks, besides providing government subsidy for drip irrigation.The suggestion was made at an interactive meeting the representatives of bio-fuel industry recently had with senior officials of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), which was chaired by its Vice-chancellor, Dr C Ramasamy.The industry has requested TNAU to represent to the National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board, for quick sanctioning of back-ended subsidy for jatropha plantations.Fixing a minimum support price for jatropha seeds was also expressed as an issue of concern. It was also suggested that the banks should provide loans to farmers for jatropha cultivation and to explore the possibilities of credit through cooperative societies, a TNAU release said here today.A consensus was arrived at the meeting to use only seeds of known pedigree and genetic purity after inspection and assessment of oil quality and other seed parameters by TNAU.
Ramasamy has said that 20,000 hectares in 24 districts had already been identified by Department of Agriculture, as part of Tamil Nadu government's programme on 'promotion of cultivation of jatropha', during the current fiscal.Nine bio-fuel industries, in coordination with joint director of agriculture and assistant director of agriculture (palm oil and oil seeds), Chennai, would cover the entire area, Ramasamy said.
