Jatropha and Bio fuels

CENTRE FOR JATROPHA AND BIOFUELS PROMOTION (CJBP)

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY,

GANDHIGRAM RURAL UNIVERSITY
GANDHIGRAM.-624 302, DINDIGUL DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA
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Centre for Jatropha and Bio fuels Promotion proposed by Dr. G. S. Kannan,
Reader in the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and sanctioned by the UGC,
New Delhi with an outlay of Rs. 88 Lakhs for Gandhigram Rural University,
Gandhigram has been recently established, operated and maintained by the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
NEED FOR THE CENTRE
Jatropha, being new crop, farmers of this part of the country are not much aware of its scientific cultivation details. Number of interested farmers who were willing to raise this crop expressed their inability to access the technology and oil extraction procedure.
Hence, massive awareness and exposure programmes on the cultivation of Jatropha among the various sectors of the community viz., farmers, extension workers, scientists, NGOs etc. for which a nodal centre for the promotion of Jatropha and other bio-fuels in future for this region of the country has been felt essential. Accordingly, a Centre for Jatropha and Bio-fuels Promotion has been started with the following objectives:
OBJECTIVES OF THE CENTRE
1. To act as a resource centre for the Promotion, Research and Cultivation of
Jatropha plants and Bio-fuel usage in south India.
2. To establish and maintain model Jatropha plantations incorporating the
Standardized agro-techniques
3. To set up an oil extraction and Trans-esterification unit as a common facility
4. To serve as a centre for providing training to farmers and unemployed youth in cultivation of Jatropha and oil extraction procedure.
5. Setting up of oil extraction unit
6. Assessing the Bio-diesel quality from different feedstock
7. Providing training to farmers and unemployed youth in cultivation of Jatropha
and oil extraction
PROPOSED ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRE
1. Promotion of Jatropha cultivation and Bio-fuel usage
2. Selection of superior planting material
3. Standardization of Propagation techniques – Micro and Macro propagation.
4. Standardizing agro-techniques
5. Establishment of model Jatropha plantations
6. Developing superior seedling and Tree improvement
7. Detoxification of seed meal
8. Identification of different pests and diseases occurring on Jatropha and their
possible control
9. Storage and Long term preservation of seeds and oil
10. Promoting the uses of other parts of plant i.e. leaves, bark etc. for developing
organic dyes, medicines ; fruit shells for producing bio-gas etc.
11. Developing locally suitable post harvest processing methods
12. Setting up of oil extraction unit
13. Setting up of Trans-esterification unit
14. Assessing the Bio-diesel quality from different feedstock
15. Providing training to farmers and unemployed youth in cultivation of Jatropha and oil extraction
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE CENTRE
I. ADVISORY COMMITTEE
1. Vice-chancellor, GRI -Patron and Chairman
2. The Registrar, GRI - Member
3. Finance Officer, GRI - Member
4. Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry - Member
5. CTO, K.V.K, GRI - Member
6. HOD, Dept. of Biology, GRI - Member
7. HOD, Dept. of Chemistry, GRI - Member 2
8. Dr. R. Udhayakumar - Member and Reader in Agrl. Engg Co Director
9. Dr. S. Ganesh - Member and Reader in Horticulture Co Director
10. Dr.M. Sundaramari - Member and Reader in Agril. Extension Co Director
11. Dr. G. S. Kannan Reader in Plant Protection -Member Secretary, Convener and Director
II. CORE STAFF COMMITTEE
Director : Dr. G. S. KANNAN- Director and Convener
Co-Director : Dr. R. UDHAYAKUMAR- Co-Director & Member (Machineries & Processing)
Co-Director : Dr. S. GANESH- Co-Director & Member (Crop (Production & Research)
Co-Director : Dr. M. SUNDARAMARI- Co-Director & Member (Training & Awareness)
Budget outlay of the Centre                          Funding Agency
: Rs. 88.00 Lakhs     : UNIVERSITY GRANT COMMISSION,(UGC), NEW DELHI
Phone No.: 0451-2452371, Extn.2083 / 2038 Fax No. : 0451 -2453071
E-mail  : gricc@vsnl.com
III. TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
1. Dr. G.S. Kannan - Director & Convener
2. Dr. R. Udhayakumar - Co-Director & Member
3. Dr. S. Ganesh - Co-Director & Member
4. Dr. M. Sundaramari - Co-Director & Member
5. Dr. T.T. Ranganathan - Member
6. Dr. T. Senthivel - Member
7. Dr. M. Seethalakshmi - Member

The Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI) was founded in 1956.