ICRISAT is an autonomous, non-profit, non-political, international research organization for science-based agricultural development. Established in 1972, it is one of the 15 Centers under the aegis of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICRISAT works to improve the farming systems of the semi-arid tropics (SAT) of the developing world through integrated genetic and natural resource management strategies, including genetic conservation and improvement of five crops that are particularly important in the diets of the poor: sorghum, pearl millet, groundnut, chickpea, and pigeonpea. ICRISAT forms research partnerships with government, non-governmental, and private sector organizations in developing countries and linking these partners to advanced research institutions worldwide.

Speaker Profile
Dr. Suhas P Wani is working as a Regional Theme Coordinator (Asia) and Principal Scientist (Watersheds), Global Theme on Agroecosystems, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India.

His area of specialization is Integrated Watershed Management, Wasteland  Development, Biodiesel plantation, Integrated Nutrient Management and C Sequestration with the aim of conservation of natural resources and their sustainable use for improving livelihoods of people in the SAT.

In the area of biodiesel, Dr. SP Wani leading a team of scientists working on screening of Germplasam of Pongamia and Jatropha for high yield and high oil content as well as best agronomic practices for enhancing the productivity of Jatropha. His team has also developed a community participatory approach for rehabilitating degraded common property lands using Jatropha plantations for minimizing land degradation and enhancing rural incomes of the vulnerable group members through self-help groups and awarding them usufruct rights by the Government authorities. He is handling number of projects sponsored by Government of India, International Fund for Agricultural Development, State Government of Andhra Pradesh and private industries and public private partnership initiative in the area of biodiesel plantation supported by GTZ. Technical backstopping is provided to the farmers surrounding the factory and establishing the linkages for buy-back agreements between the farmers and the private biodiesel company i.e. Southern Online Bio Technologies Ltd., He has won Gold medal from Government of Vietnam for making impact in the area of natural resource management in Vietnam and number of Resource Mobilization Awards and Lady Doreen Mashler Award.

JatrophaWorld 2008 Hamburg Speaker
Day 2 – Tuesday, October 21
11:05 JATROPHA AND PONGAMIA PLANTATIONS FOR IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS AND REHABILITATION OF DEGRADED LANDS

Overview of Presentation
Jatropha and Pongamia are the candidates for bio-diesel due to their high oil content in the seeds, ability to grow under rainfed conditions and not browsed by the animals in field.

Bio-fuel strategy for sustainable development has to focus on biomass sources and approaches that do not compete with and in fact could well enhance food production by attracting greater investment that boost both food and bio-fuel productivity. Currently, rainwater use efficiency in dry land areas of developing countries specifically is low (35-40%), vast tracts of wastelands are available which are not suitable for growing food crops and large number of rural poor people depend for their livelihoods on the natural resources base in the region. Pro-poor bio-power strategy by enhancing rainwater use efficiency and rehabilitation of degraded lands can be a win-win-win proposition to address the issues of protecting environment, improving livelihoods of rural poor and meeting bio-fuel needs. ICRISAT in partnership with Government institutions and civil society organizations has developed a model approach for growing bio-diesel plantations on the common low quality/degraded lands in rural areas.

The experiences of developing common property resources with the help of self help groups (SHGs) of landless and vulnerable members in the society and ensuring user-fruct rights to the SHGs for harvesting seeds from Jatropha and Pongamia plantations are discussed.

Science-based bio-power strategy through improved soil and water conservation measures could rehabilitate degraded common property resources in the village. A 300 ha plantation of Jatropha and Pongamia is established under complete rainfed situation and is ready for harvesting the fruits. Pro-poor bio-power strategy is looking at decentralized model of energy production to meet the local demand in villages by adopting value chain for Jatropha and Pongamia plantations.

Suitable agronomic practices, development of improved cultivars, water requirement and institutional arrangements for increasing productivity of Jatropha and Pongamia are discussed. Science-based decisions in case of Jatropha and Pongamia plantations can benefit the poor, protect the environment and also meet the growing demand of the oil for meeting the energy requirement.

Public-private-partnership between ICRISAT-GTZ-SBT (Southern Online Bio Technologies Ltd) is for bio-diesel production, improving the energy demand and improved livelihoods is being evaluated.

JATROPHAWORLD 2008 is a showcase of all the latest trends and shifts occurring in the Jatropha value chain, bringing together on a single platform, the best expertise to discuss and analyze the present and future dynamics of Jatropha from a technological and socio-economic angle. To find more about JatrophaWorld in Hamburg from October 20 to 21, 2008, please visit http://www.futureenergyevents.com/jatropha/.