The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Fapcci), in association with city-based Sampada Farms and Consultants, is organising a national seminar on bio-fuels 'Bioleum "� 2004' here on August 25. |
O P Goenka, president of Fapcci, told a press meet that the federation had decided to organise the meet in view of the growing interest among the governments and the farmers on the potential of bio-fuel plantations as a source of sustained livelihood. |
The bio-fuel plantation acquired significance as the governments were recognising the need to find a renewable alternative to conventional diesel oils in the wake of inflating import bills of crude oils, he said. |
India alone imported around 70 per cent of its total required crude oils worth Rs 90,000 crore in 2002, he pointed out. |
Goenka said that the country had around 30 million hectares of waste land which could used to cultivate energy plants. |
As the central and the Andhra Pradesh governments were formulating policies to encourage bio-fuels, the chamber had decided to throw open the opportunities for the farmers to grow bio-fuel plants. |
Several experts would speak on the potential financial benefits of growing the three tree oil plants of jatropha, pongamia and simarouba. |
They would also make presentations on the best farming practices to be adopted for these plants, he said. Apart from the oil, the by-products of the plantscould fetch additional income to the farmers, he added. |
N Raghuram, managing consultant of Sampada Farms, said some unscrupulous firms were selling jatropha at over Rs 18 per seedling. |
They were simply sourcing plant material from across the country and selling at inflated costs. The plantlet would not cost more than Rs 5 inclusive of all expenses, he noted. |