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PONGAMIA-A POTENTIAL BIOFUEL TREE FOR INDIA

By Ajit, Nighat Jabeen and A.K.Handa

India ranks 6 th in the world in terms of energy demand. However, a large part of India's population, living mostly in rural areas and including the poorest people, does not have access to fossil fuel, oil-dependent sources of energy. The increasing gap between demand and domestically produced petroleum is a matter of serious concern. It is estimated that the import of crude oil will increase from 85 mmtpa [million metric tones per annum, equals to 20,000 barrels per day] to 151 mmtpa by the end of 2006- 2007, correspondingly increasing the import bill from US$ 17-18 billion in the present to US$ 31.3 billion in 2006-07 (World Energy Council, 2006 : http://www.indiaworldenergy.org/oil.php) which is an enormous burden on the balance of payment condition of the country. Thus, oil security has become most important and key issue for the country.

These energy issues are directly related to two of the Millennium Development Goals, i.e. MDG1 on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, and MDG 7 on ensuring environmental sustainability. Energy issues also influence the achievement of the healthrelated MDGs, nos 4,5 and 6, on combating child mortality, improving maternal health and combating diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. Air pollution, through smoke or diesel exhaust fumes, and a lack of available and affordable energy for cooking, heating and lighting all affect people's health. Women and children are particularly vulnerable, as they are often responsible for the collection of fuel and for cooking, frequently on smoky fires.

In this context, fuels of biological origin have drawn a great deal of attention during the last two decades. Biofuels are renewable liquid fuels derived from biological raw materials and they have proven to be a good substitute for mineral oil-based fuels in the transportation sector. Biofuels are gaining worldwide acceptance as a solution for problems of environmental degradation, energy security, restricting imports, rural employment and agricultural economy. The Indian national mission on biodiesel proposed to produce biodiesel in quantities sufficient to enable its blending with HSD (High Speed Diesel) to the extent of 20% in 2011-12. There are about 90 tree species bearing seeds rich in oil, with potential for biofuel use. Of these, some promising tree species yielding biofuels are Pongamia pinnata and Jatropha curcas . Both are very suitable for Indian conditions. Using nonedible oil from tree borne oil seeds (TBOs) of these species, which are easily available in India, may reduce the cost of biofuel. The availability of some of these non-edible oils in India is shown in table I. There is a large gap between the potential and current use for all of the listed oils due to their alternative uses such as for fish feed, fat, pesticides and pharmaceutical use.

Both Jatropha and Pongamia may contribute directly to alleviating poverty and improving the environment, not only through production of biofuel, but also as multipurpose trees providing a range of products and services. Jatropha can provide oil for domestic energy needs, including lighting; an additional source of household income and employment through markets of fuel, fertilizer, medicines, biopesticides, and industrial raw material for soap and cosmetics; and reclamation of wastelands.

Pongamia pinnata , a native species in India, yields between nine to ninety kilograms (20 to 200 pounds) of seeds per year. The seeds contain pongam oil, a bitter, red brown, thick, non-drying, non edible oil, 27–36% by weight, which has great potential as biofuel, as tanning leather, soap, as a liniment to treat scabies, herpes, and rheumatism and as an illuminating oil. One kg of seeds produces one-quarter of a litre of oil. The oil cake is a good source of manure, and is described as a “useful poultry feed”. Both the oil and residues serve as biological pesticides. One litre of oil generates three units [1 unit=1kilo watts hour) of electricity. The current cost (2006) of Pongamia diesel Rs. 13 per litre (1US$ = 46 Indian Rs.) is less than one third than the current price of diesel (Rs. 36 per litre). Pongamia trees produce many other useful products, including bark fibre for ropes and several herbal medicines. It is recommended as a shade tree for pastures and windbreak for tea and avenue plantation. The leaves are scarcity fodder, especially in arid regions. It is sometimes intercropped with pasture, and the pasture grasses grow well in its shade. Dried pongamia leaves are used in stored grains to repel insects. Its spreading roots make it valuable for checking erosion and stabilizing dunes. Twigs are used as a chewstick for cleaning the teeth. The ash of the wood is used in dyeing.

Table 1: Non-edible oil sources in India

(Source: Report of the Committee on Development of Biofuel, Planning Commission, Government of India: http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/publications/pubbody.htm)

Multi-purpose tree species such as Pongamia have a role to play in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It is worth exploring the scope for expanding the use of these trees for biofuel and other products and services such as land reclamation, for the benefit of the Indian rural and urban poor, and the environment. To this end, the Indian National Research Centre for Agroforestry has developed a bibliographic database on Pongamia research conducted in India to allow not only the scientific community but also students, researchers, policy makers, planners and the public to search information on Pongamia through a very simple user friendly and menu driven interface. The database is available on-line at http://mirror.inaris.gen.in/net/.

Further information:
Dr Ajit
Senior Scientist
National Research Centre for Agroforestry (NRCAF)
Gwalior Road, Jhansi-284 003 (UP), India
Email: umaajitgupta@yahoo.co.in & ajit@mail.nrcaf.ernet.in

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