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Our Bureau

Coimbatore , Oct. 2

AFTER cotton and maize, now contract-farming cultivation of jatropha is being contemplated.

The UK-based D1 Oils Plc, which works through consortiums with local partners in Nambia, Kenya, Ghana, Philippines, Mozambique, South Africa and Egypt, has entered into an agreement with the Chennai-based Mohan Breweries and Distilleries to float an outfit.

The new venture - D1-Mohan Bio Oils Ltd - is exploring the possibility of taking up largescale jatropha plantation in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Addressing presspersons after the first international conference on jatropha, Mr Philip Wood, Chief Executive Officer (Global Operations), D1 Oils, said the company was targeting to cover an area of 5 million hectares (under jatropha) over a five-year period.

"We are ready to write contracts for buying the seeds," he said. The process of signing contract farming agreements has commenced, Mr Wood said and pointed out that D1 - Mohan Bio Oils would target an area of one-lakh hectares during the current year.

Stating that there was no organised cultivation of jatropha at present, as it was mostly found in the wild and the seeds picked by the poor for use by soap/paint units, he said for the first time, the company was proposing to raise it in an organised manner.

The company, Mr Wood said began the initiative last year by setting up a product development centre in Coimbatore for developing elite seeds/seedlings, formulation of bio-fertiliser suited for the crop and soil and development of best agronomical practices for long term success.

Mr Steve Douty, Director (Asia Region), told Business Line that the scientific community had identified 130 different eco-types, of which 60 would be taken up for cultivation.

"After field trials, we intend to further short-list it to 20-odd varieties to get the best lines of seed through conventional plant breeding techniques."

He further pointed out that the Indian arm - D1 Oils India (Private) Ltd was working with various State Governments on Waste Land Policy apart from co-ordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture. "Though India is far ahead of others in jatropha, a national policy on bio-diesel is not yet in place," he said. The parent company, meanwhile, has proposed to invest Rs 8 crore over the next 12 months for research in India.

"We are in the process of putting up a number of test sites to get high-quality seeds and better yields. Seven test sites would come up in the next five months."

The target yield per hectare would not be less than 2.7 tonnes of oil over the next two-three years, he said and added that the yield could vary depending on the location, type of soil etc., but the company would strive at doubling it when the target is achieved.

The company is planning to formally inaugurate the product development centre in Coimbatore in November.

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