Fuelling a green movement

BIO-ENERGY

Kernels of the green leafy legume tree, pongamia pinnata, are proving to be more than just seeds. Locally known as honge, the oil produced from the seeds of this tree is seen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. In addition, they assure a supplementary income for small farmers in Karnataka. The Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board (KSBDB) is promoting honge species along with several locally available and useful tree species such as neem, jathropha, simaruba (also known as paradise tree or bitterwood) and hippe (madhuca indica or mahua) tree for the development of bio-diesel.

In the context of increasing fuel demands and depleting fossil fuels, it is important to find substitutes. Globally, the demand for bio-fuels is mounting. This has led to growing food crops for fuel production in countries like Mexico, USA and European countries, which has garnered criticism world over for compromising food security. However, the new initiative has raised hopes for bio-fuels. Unlike food crops, the potential tree species identified by the Board do not pose a threat to food security. These trees can be grown as an inter-crop on farmers’ lands and in wastelands.

Y B Ramakrishna, Chairman of KSBDB, says, “We set out as a Task Force in the year 2008, with the objectives of reducing oil import, increasing rural income, achieving 10 per cent blending of bio-fuel with petrol/diesel by the year 2017 without compromising on food security. This initiative proves to be eco-friendly too by considerably reducing green house gas emissions.” Oil tree planting, seed collection, processing of bio-diesel and use of by-products are some of the activities set out by the KSBDB.

Fuel crops as ideal inter-crops

Short-term oil crops like hibiscus sabdariffa (pundi in Kannada) and recinus communis (castor) are suitable for growing after harvesting khariff crops. Pongamia (honge) can be grown on the ridges and bunds. In rainfall-dependent areas of North Karnataka, castor and hibiscus sabdariffa can be grown as inter-crops.

Pongamia species can grow in any area with rainfall ranging from 500 to 2500 cm.

However, it grows well in fertile lands with high soil-moisture content. The flowering season of this tree is between the months of March and May and the seeds can be harvested in the month of January until May the following year. A kilogram of these seeds has roughly 460-530 seeds in it. It takes nearly seven years for the trees to produce seeds.

Madhuca indica (hippe) is similar to pongamia and is a good fuel crop. Hippe starts yielding seeds in its tenth year. Using grafting, yield of these trees can be advanced and increased. Research suggests that the oil extracted from pongamia finds several uses. It is used to run pump sets, generators, tractors and buses.

Apart from having medicinal value, neem is a suitable biofuel crop. A kilogram of neem seeds has 2,500-3,000 numbers. A well grown 10-12 year old neem tree yields 15 kilograms of seeds. Simaruba and jatropha are also known to be good bio-fuel crops which can be grown as inter-crops.

There are nearly 350 varieties of tree species naturally occurring in India which are well suited for production of bio-diesel. Roughly 150 of such species are available and identified in Karnataka.

These trees grow widely, provide large quantity of oil rich seeds suitable for the production of bio-diesel and adapt well in the arid regions too.

Sustainable development

The Board has designed several programmes to achieve its objectives. It has recognised private lands and government lands to grow tree species for harvesting seeds. A buy-back scheme for the seeds produced and setting up of units for seed crushing and extraction of oil, have been undertaken by the Board. Information and demonstration centres have been designed to collect different types of non-edible oil seeds, extract oil (500-600 kg of seed crushing capacity per day), esterify to produce bio-diesel (100-150 litres per day) and glycerine. The bio-diesel produced will be blended with petro diesel and used in several vehicles belonging to these institutions. The de-oiled cake will be used or sold as organic manure. For small farmers, it has launched several programmes such as Hasiru Honnu, Baradu Bangara and Suvarna Bhoomi.

Seed collection and oil processing

The collected seeds are processed in the processing units set up in various centres of the State. There are four units in operation at Biofuel Park, Madenur, Hassan; UAS, Bangalore; UAS Dharwad and MGRIRED, Bangalore. Also, small oil extraction units are planned in 50 areas, where the farmer-led groups can collectively process oil at these centres. To create awareness and expand activities several Information and Demonstration Centres have been set up in 15 districts of Karnataka. Agricultural universities, KVKs and several educational institutions have been involved in setting up such centres.

Y B Ramakrishna says, “Several new programmes have been planned including setting up of clonal orchards, which are helpful for farmers to procure good quality plant saplings. We will identify good quality trees, mother trees, which are then cloned to produce the same high-quality seeds. 10 such centres are being set up across the State.”
The Chairman says that two arboretums have been started this year in Holenarsipura and in Challakere. These arboretums are houses of gene pool of multiple species from across the country, which have been identified as potential species for production of bio-fuels.

Market avenues for bio-diesel

The bio-diesel produced through the units have a potential market. Currently, several KSRTC buses run on the bio-diesel produced through this initiative. The Board, in partnership with KSRTC, experimented with the idea of running 2,200 buses on 7.75 ethanol blended diesel. This has become a success and is seen as a model in the entire country. Soon, an additional 5,500 buses will also be equipped to run on ethanol blended diesel. 

Y B Ramakrishna says, “We are also working with corporate establishments in establishing production units of bio-diesel. Ecogreen Fuels, one such corporate company is into production of bio-diesel and we are helping them in selling bio-diesel to KSRTC.

There are plans to promote bio-diesel in ground vehicles used in Bangalore airport.

Although this is still an idea but if things fall in place we may soon have a first eco-friendly airport in the country.