Maha govt plans jatropha farming on 3 lakh acres

Maharashtra government is planning to bring around 3 lakh acres of government-owned and barren land in Maharashtra under jatropha cultivation.

Mahesh Zagade, Director General of Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA), said: "The state government is planning a major focus on bio-fuel. Accordingly, the state government is planning cultivation of jatropha on government-owned and barren or waste land throughout Maharashtra. Around 3 lakh acres of land is to be brought under jatropha cultivation shortly. The government is also considering utilisation of forest land for the cultivation of jatropha."

District collectors have been asked to collect information regarding availability of government-owned and waste or barren land, and details will be available shortly. Two oil extraction plants - one each at Aurangabad and Latur - have already come up in Maharashtra, Zagade added. 

According to sources, around 300 acres is already under jatropha cultivation in Nashik. Isonox Bio-Energy, the first bio-diesel manufacturing unit in Nashik, has alredy started operations. The  unit, which manufactures bio-diesel from Jatropha curcas seeds, currently has a production capacity of 2,000 litres per day.