The plan of the government to produce bio-diesel from Jatropha is not considered a viable proposition, as compared to the safflower due to cost and crop duration. Sources in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Minfa) said that a few "short-sighted" policymakers were pursuing production of bio-diesel.
Jatropha production started about 10 years ago in India, but due to no encouraging results its future remained dim because of low input . "Sooner or later, the policymakers who are showing extraordinary interest in Jatropha in Pakistan will also go after this crop to some trials levels," an analyst said.
Sources said that experts had done a lot of agronomical research and could propose high yielding Jatropha crop, but due to its average growth time of approximately three years, initially, it would take all efforts and resources for this period before giving some results.
On the other hand, shorter crops, like non-edible safflower seeds, give an option to try it out and know the results faster in one's own environment, approximately in 4 months time. "Jatropa is planted at about 1600 trees per hectare, and it takes two to three years to bear oilseeds, while safflower, due to short duration (120-140 days), can be cultivated twice a year on the same piece of land," said another analyst.
Safflower, generally in subtropical areas, can be planted in a staggered monthly system for four to five months (September to February). Its seed can also be stored. "It contains high oil content--30 to 36 percent--with lower water and fertiliser needs," sources said.
Safflower is fairly drought-resistant and moderately salt-tolerant, with very low cultivation cost. It will also be worth understanding how the seeds, crop consultancy services, and the plant itself could be brought from India to Pakistan, involving plant protection permission, etc.