GUWAHATI, June 11 � The Department of Agriculture has taken up a scheme to promote jatropha (Bhot Era) cultivation in Assam for production of bio-diesel. Altogether 137.4 ha of land will be covered under this crop, in the districts of Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Kamrup, Darrang, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Marigaon, Karimganj and Hailakandi.
Twenty-six training sessions will be conducted to motivate the farmers. The cultivation will be done in waste land of the State.
In this connection, a State level workshop on �Biodiesel Production Technique from Jatropha� was held at R&D Centre, NEDFi, Khetri, on June 9, which was organized by the Department of Agriculture, Assam, with technical support from the NEDFi.
Nilamoni Sen Deka, Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture & Food Processing, Assam attended the workshop as chief guest and called for sustainable agricultural development in Assam. He assured the farming community that the State government will extend all possible help for the benefit of the farmers.
Dr Moniruddin Ahmed, scientist, Dr Dwipen Dutta, scientist, Panchanon Saikia, JDA (Pulse), Nripen Medhi, SDAO and Keshab Barua, president, Pathar Parichalana Samity participated in the workshop as resource persons.
