Conference article

Performance of Jatropha Biodiesel Production and Its Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts - A Case Study in Southern India

Lisa Axelsson
Physical Resource Theory, Department of Energy and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden

Maria Franzén
Physical Resource Theory, Department of Energy and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden

Madelene Ostwald
Physical Resource Theory, Department of Energy and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden \ Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research, Department of Water and Environmental Studies, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden

Göran Berndes
Physical Resource Theory, Department of Energy and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden

N. H. Ravindranath
Centre for Sustainable Technologies & Centre for Ecological Science, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

Download articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp110572470

Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:25, p. 2470-2477

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Published: 2011-11-03

ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

Abstract

In India expectations have been high on production of biodiesel from the oil-crop Jatropha. Jatropha is promoted as a drought- and pest-resistant crop; with the potential to grow on degraded soil with a low amount of inputs. These characteristics encourage hope for positive environmental and socio-economic impacts from Jatropha biodiesel production. The purpose of this study was to explore the performance of Jatropha biodiesel production in Southern India; to identify motivational factors for continued Jatropha cultivation; and to assess environmental and socio-economic impacts of the Jatropha biodiesel production. 106 farmers who have or have had Jatropha plantations were visited and interviewed regarding their opinion of Jatropha cultivation. The result indicates that 85 percent of the farmers have discontinued cultivation of Jatropha. The main barriers to continued cultivation derive from ecological problems; economic losses; and problems in the development and execution of the governmental implementation of the Jatropha programme. The Jatropha characteristics were overrated; and the plantations failed to provide income to the farmer. A common factor for the farmers who continued Jatropha cultivation was that they had the economic means to maintain non-profitable plantations. As the Jatropha programme was not as successful as expected; the expected positive environmental and socio-economic impacts have not been realized.

Keywords

Household interviews; Drivers and barriers; Land use; Rural development

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