Lok Sabha Question No. 1152 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-28
Subject: Jatropha Plantation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE
Asked by: B.N. CHANDRAPPA, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & COOPERATION

**LOK  SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1152**

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  28 TH JULY, 2015

**JATROPHA PLANTATION**

1152.     SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA:

SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE 	     कृषि मंत्री

be pleased  to state:

(a)	 whether Jatropha is being used to produce bio diesel in the country;

(b)	 if so, the details of the area under Jatropha Plantation and production of bio diesel from Jatropha during the last three years, year/State-wise and

(c)	 the steps taken by the Government to further encourage Jatropha Plantation in the country to meet the demand of bio diesel in the country?

### ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

कृषि मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री  (SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA)

(a) & (b):	Jatropha is not being used to produce bio diesel on a significant scale in the country. This department had undertaken Jatropha plantation up to 2010 for utilization as source of quality planting material for mass multiplication. During the first three years of 11 th Five Year Plan period i.e. 2007-08 to 2009-10 plantations of Jatropha was done over an area of 2946 hectares as against the target of 3186 hectares. Under  Mini Mission–III of National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) targets  of 263 hectares and 434 hectares have been approved under Jatropha plantation for 2014-15 and 2015-16, respectively. Oil marketing companies and their Joint Venture/Limited Liability Partnership have undertaken Jatropha plantation in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. Details of the projects are annexed.

(c):	Plantation of Jatropha along with other TBOs is being promoted by this Department under Mini Mission III of National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP). Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had announced a National Policy on Biofuels and its implementation for promotion of biofuels, includes bio diesel. The policy endeavors to facilitate and bring about optimal development and utilization of indigenous biomass feed-stocks for production of bio-fuels.

**ANNEXURE**

**DETAILS PERTAINING TO JATROPHA PLANTATION ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY PUBLIC SECTOR OIL MARKEITNG COMPANIES AND THEIR JV / LLP**

**BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD.**

A Joint Venture (JV) Company named “Bharat Renewable Energy Ltd. (BREL)” was formed by three promoters namely M/s. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, M/s S P Agri Management Services Pvt. Ltd. & M/s Nandan Cleantec Ltd. each having 33.3% share to set up Bio Diesel value Chain in the state of UP.  It was proposed that Jatropha / Pongamia plantations would be done by Panchayats in their waste & arid lands utilizing funds from MNREGA scheme.  BREL had entered into agreement with the Panchayats to purchase Jatropha seeds at the price to be notified by Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Till 31 st March, 2014, total area of about 11,000 acres of Jatropha / Pongamia plantation was completed.  However, the yields from such plantations was very poor compared to projections and the mortality rate was high.   Independent expert assessed the project to be unviable.  Both M/s. S.P. Agri Management Services Pvt. Ltd. & M/s. Nandan Cleantec Ltd. stopped funding the losses of BREL and withdrew from the Management.  BREL became defunct and non operational, therefore, it was decided to wind up the Company.

Although purchase window was opened but not a single kg of Jatropha seeds were offered for procurement.  BREL has not produced and/or received any Bio-fuel under this agreement.

**INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD.**

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) and its JV/LLP have carried out Jatropha plantation in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.  Details of Plantation area are as under :

| **State**                      | **Plantation (Hectares)**   |             |             |             |             |             |           |
|--------------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-----------|
|                                | **2009-10**                 | **2010-11** | **2011-12** | **2012-13** | **2013-14** | **2014-15** | **Total** |
| Jhabua (MP)*                   | 241                         | 52          | --          | --          | --          | --          | 293       |
| Chhatrisgarh (through JV) **   | 771                         | 5007        | 111         | --          | --          | --          | 5889      |
| Uttar Pradesh (Thorugh LLP)*** | --                          | 10          | 1660        | 16          | 132         | --          | 1818      |
| Total (Hectare)                | 1012                        | 5069        | 1771        | 16          | 132         | --          | 8000      |

* It was a pilot for plantation of Jatropha on revenue wasteland in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh.  Planatation activities were commenced in 2009-10.  The project was closed after completion of project period in 2014.

Contd…2/-

-2-

**  Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Authority (CREDA) have formed Joint Venture Company namely ‘Indian Oil – CREDA Biofuels Ltd.’ in 2009 for promotion of energy crop plantation on the revenue wastelands in Chhattisgarh.  The JV Company has undertaken Jatropha plantation on 5889 hectare.  The low seed yields and high plantation costs have adversely affected the overall viability of the project.

***  Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd. (RSIL) have formed Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) firm namely ‘Indian Oil Ruchi Biofuels LLP’ in 2010 to participate in Boi-diesel Value Chain Project of Government of Uttar Pradesh under ‘Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (JJY)’, a scheme for promotion of energy crop plantation in Uttar Pradesh.  As per scheme, Gram Panchayats have undertaken Jatropha plantation on Panchayat wasteland and the role of LLP was limited to facilitate plantation activities and buy back seeds from Gram Panchayat at a support price decided by the Government of Uttar Pradesh.  The LLP has facilitated Jatropha plantation on 1818 hectares.  However, till date, no seeds have been made available by Gram Panchayats to LLP for Bio-fuel production.  The project viability has been adversely affected due to low seed yields.

**HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD. AND ITS JVs**

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has entered into an MoU with Government of Chhattisgarh and Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) on 14 th July, 2008 for undertaking energy crop plantation in the State of Chhattisgarh pursuant to which Joint Venture Agreement was signed on 27 th September, 2008 to form the Joint Venture company CREDA-HPCL Bio-fuel Ltd. (CHBL) with a mandate to carry out cultivation and maintenance of Jatropha plantation in revenue wastelands.

******