Lauding the work done by Chhattisgarh in the field of bio-diesel, President A P J Abdul Kalam has said that it could change the economic condition of the country.
“Bio-diesel is a field which can change the condition of the state and the country,” Kalam told jatropha cultivators of Sunderkera village in Raipur district, 25 km from Raipur. The jatropha plant is used to make bio-diesel.
He said the new state was far ahead of others in this field but one had to understand the difficulties associated with the cultivation of jatropha.
Continuous research, participation of the private sector, government support and active involvement of farmers will take the state and the country to new heights in bio-diesel production, he said.
The Chhattisgarh Bio-diesel Authority could guide others on increasing production of bio-diesel, he said and expressed the hope that the villagers of Sundarkera would guide others in the cultivation of Ratanjot or jatropha.
Sharing his experience in jatropha cultivation, Kalam said the plant’s seeds in other places contained about 25 percent oil, the seeds in Chhattisgarh had 35 percent oil content, which could be increased further.
He also suggested to farmers that they grow bamboo and amla along with jatropha to earn a larger income.
He advised the state government to start small extraction plants of 100-litre capacity for bio-diesel so that the ruraleconomy could take advantage of the bio-fuel.