CREDA-HPCL BIOFUEL LIMITED WORKSHOP ON BIODIESEL 20 TH NOVEMBER 2010

CREDA-HPCL BIOFUEL LTD. (JVC)  CREDA-HPCL Biofuel Ltd. (CHBL) is a Joint Venture between HPCL and CREDA.  CHBL is in the process of taking on lease 15,000 hectares of waste/barren Government revenue lands within a period of three years for plantation of jatropha.  The lands are spread over ten districts of the state.  The company would impart training to the work force involved in the cultivation of jatropha.  CHBL envisages to act as a catalyst in providing seasonal/periodic employment.

CURRENT STATUS  Acquired about 7500 hectares of land in the state of Chhattisgarh.  Cultivation started with the onset of monsoon during the current year.  As of date the cultivation is in progress in the districts of Bilaspur, Durg, Dhamtari, Sarguja, Koriya, Kanker, Bastar and Jashpur.  Some of the plants in Bilaspur and Dhamtari districts have started giving seeds.  Technical know-how with regard to various agri-inputs and cultivation methodology is being obtained from G.B. Pant Agricultural University, Pantnagar.  Seeds for developing saplings in the nursery have been obtained from Pendra/Marwahi area of Bilaspur District.

STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE YIELDS  Provision of irrigation being made through borewells (approximately 1 borewell per 10 hectares) to ensure minimum casualty and improve yields.  Agri-inputs like vermi-compost, mychorhiza, SSP, urea, MOP, Chlorpyriphos etc. have been provided at the time of cultivation.  Maintenance of the plants with the above inputs and appropriate irrigation have been planned for three years.  Provision of Cattle Protection Trench (CPT) have been made on various plantation sites to minimise damage by the grazing cattle.

ISSUES  Provision of irrigation, agri-inputs, CPT and annual maintenance of the plants may enhance the project cost.  Availability of appropriate Government revenue waste land is limited.  Process of allotting barren lands is time consuming.  Area of blocks of land varies from about 10 hectares to 40/50 hectares. Due to this the work has to be monitored in more than 300 blocks as of date in various districts of Chhattisgarh.  There have been unauthorised encroachments on some of the lands allotted on various blocks.

SITE PHOTOGRAPHS SITE MARKING

SITE MARKING AND PIT DIGGING

AGRI INPUTS

SAPLINGS

PLANTATION WORK

CURRENT PLANTATIONS

SOME OF OUR JATROPHA PLANTS

OUR FLOWER BEARING PLANTS

SOME OF OUR FRUIT BEARING PLANTS

THANK YOU