Bio Diesel

I was amazed when I first heard that diesel can be produced from plant seeds. Somehow my maturity level has increased after monitoring bio-diesel experiments. But still many people are not aware about bio-diesel preparation and its other benefits to the society.

Bio-diesel is an oil extracted from plant seeds to run diesel engines. It can entirely or with mixture with diesel work as a fuel. As per 2002 statistics, India imported around 90000 crores worth petroleum products. If India can produce bio-diesel for its sufficiency, It can approximately save 7000 crores annually.

Though bio-diesel can be extracted by various means (like soyabeans / sunflower), Jatropha seeds play a significant role in biodiesel preparation. Jatropha plantation and maintanence are very simple. The major advantage of Jatropha is, it can be planted in dry lands or wastelands where water availability is very less. Once in fifteen days watering is enough for these plants to grow. It doesn't maintanence after two years of plantation. India has vast amount of waste lands not fit for afforestation. These lands shall be used for Jatropha cultivation. Jatropha seeds give 60% glycerol as byproduct during its oil extraction. Glycerol is essential for soap manufacturing.

It has been experimented in India for last two to three years and industries are geared up towards bio-diesel engines to make it available to layman soon. All train engines of Indian railways are using bio-diesel as its fuel!

Agricultural Exhibition at Madurai

There is an agricultural exhibition going on at Tamukam grounds, Madurai. I feel this is the first time this exhibition is hosted in Madurai with good advertisement. It is worth spending time there. One can get good amount of information on Agriculture, Poultry, Agriculture related technological advancements etc. Even If you are a doctor / engineer / pilot, you can find a role to play in these field. It is such an open area to play around.

Similar exhibitions shall be planned in metros. People shall get good awareness on agriculture and its related areas. It may trigger thoughts for many investors to invest in it. People can understand farmers problems and try to resolve with advanced technologies. It can bridge the gap between rural and urban.

Seednow - Seed positive thoughts to the society

Are we satisfied with our society or environment where we live? Leaving 0.1% who live in coma others would feel NO. Even childrens now-a-days feel so. We are complaining a lot about Government, Industries, Educationists etc. but what are we doing as an individual? There are people who expect changes in many fields. It may be in education or in technology or in relations etc. Although they respect our customs and traditions, they expect a positive change or oppurtunity for betterment in many areas. Many are not even experimented because of lack of interest,energy,funding,knowledge etc... If these changes are experimented and brought into action with full swing, many positive impacts would be there in the society. It may lead to poverty alleviation, environmental protection, reduction in rich-poor divide, improved eduction thus improved quality of life etc...

Seednow is an initiative to bring all these thoughts into action. Seednow is a voluntary group, wanted to dedicate its efforts to bring positive changes to the society. It is inaugurated on trial basis on Tamil Pongal day (14-Jan-2007). It is planning to try "Gift a Tree" initiative (Read Gift a Tree article in our blog)

Let us join hands with them to seed positive thoughts to the society for the betterment of our future generations.