Abstract

The jatropha euphoria that was generated and nurtured in India and several other countries of the Asia-Pacific centers around the hypothesis that this versatile plant can produce oil-rich seeds with very little inputs in terms of fertilizers, water and labor on marginal land and wasteland not used for cultivation. In reality, however, jatropha has been shown to have a high water footprint and needs substantial nutrient and labor inputs for economically viable biodiesel production. These constraints were primarily responsible for many Indian farmers giving up jatropha cultivation on their lands. Besides, mass cultivation of jatropha in biodiversity-rich areas is also fraught with the risk posed by the invasive potential of jatropha. Another aspect that cannot be ignored is the toxic nature of jatropha fruits and seeds. The continued interest of MNCs in jatropha vis-à-vis the options for small and marginal farmers are also discussed