Implications of India's biofuel policies for food, water and the poor

摘要: Increasing consensus about the end of cheap oil, consequences global warming and need for rural development are catalyzing expansion biofuels like ethanol biodiesel. While most nations promoting conventional crops, India9s strategy is to promote Jatropha curcas , a drought-tolerant, perennial crop with little prior commercial track record. The aim this paper three-fold. (1) To compare characteristics various crops their potential as in order assess relative advantages disadvantages . (2) analyze implications current biofuel policies food supply, agricultural water demand poor. (3) highlight briefly some alternative strategies that can overcome drawbacks strategy. One conclusion although has low requirement, which an important benefit, it several other disadvantages. Another recommendation emerges from should also focus on short-duration, multi-purpose proven drought-tolerant sweet sorghum be adopted by small landholders while wasteland rehabilitation broader array options, provide greater direct benefits