DARL the new darling of the Forces

NEW DELHI: Gun 'n roses go hand-in-hand. That makes DARL the new darling of the Forces. The Defence Agricultural Research Laboratory (DARL) at Pithoragarh, perched high in the Kumaon hills, has just attained a major breakthrough in developing an extremely high oil-yielding jatropha germplasm, that is, for which tissue culture is now underway.

In the quest to reduce the armed forces’ dependence on fossil fuels, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) trained its sight on the slicky virtues of the shrubby Jatropha plant. It has now shortlisted two genotypes – DARL-1 and 2 – which could well revolu-tionise convoy movement in the remotest of geographies, at a fraction of today’s cost. And with 5,000 jatropha-ready hectares with the ministry of defence, bio-fuel is blooming where the guns were once booming.

The jatropha initiative was started at the behest of Indian Army in September last and 25 hectares have already been deployed for jatropha cultivation. The ministry of defence plans to extend the area under cultivation to 65 acres by the year end.

And apart from the 5,000 hectares already with the Ministry for possible jatropha cultivation, there's “positive dialogue” between the Rajasthan and Gujarat state governments to bring in more acreage under cultivation.

“The initiative will help Indian Army gain some self sufficiency in its fuel requirements apart from several other benefits,” Dr W Selvamurthy, chief controller, R&D, at DRDO told ET.

The Army operates at altitudes where the temperature drops to -50 degree Celsius, or in deserts that scorch a 50 degree plus trail. “Our people even have to work under the sea with a lot of pressure above them, or in the eastern part of India where there blood-sucking insects,” points out R C Sawhney, director, Life Sciences, DRDO.

Strategic points call for the promotion of bio-fuels. “We want to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as it's very expensive, and step on the bio-gas,” says Dr Selvamurthy.

Today, nearly one-sixth of the Army operates in high-altitude areas, where diesel can be used up to freezing point. From 0 degree to 17 degree Celsius, the jawans use up to 80% hi-grade kerosene, and only 20% diesel. And beyond -17 degree Celsius, 98% hi-grade kerosene is mixed with 2% minerals.

“We are working on the ideal shelf-life in high altitudes so that bio-diesel may be used, since hi-grade kerosene is nothing but the very expensive aviation turbine fuel,” says Dr Sawhney.

Simultaneously, the hunt for higher oil-bearing genotypes of the elixir crop is keeping the men in fatigues busy. “Our research is bearing fruit, and in the near future, we may have a jatropha germplasm which bears 40% oil content,” says a scientist with DRDO.

While genetic engineering for the perfect crop is on in full swing, so is the testing of the existing DARLs in vehicles. “Our bio-fuel will come with Bharat III certification and we have successfully tested the DARL varieties across a range of vehicles in our labs,” he adds.

Economics, well, here it is. After 3 years of plantation, each Jatropha crop carrying the DARL 1 and 2 strain will contribute 3-5 litre of bio-fuel, apart from other compounds, such as the cake used in soap in-dustry, glycerol and the energy pumped in to biogas.

The cold-susceptible Jatropha grows in semi-arid land, and the two selected strains show an oil content between 34-37%. Today, the cost of pro-ducing a litre of the jatropha manna sits at Rs 32. Besides, carbon credits come in handy at underwriting the project at the rate of $70 per hectare from the third year of cultivation.

While it’s true that Indian Railways, by virtue of being the nation’s largest landowners, has chalked out plans to commercially cultivate jatropha across 75 hectares, the armed forces revel in adversity.

The nature of work criss-crossing extreme climatic zones has prodded the ministry of defence to bring in a larger area and quality fuel to its fold. “And we are moving from cultivation to end-use, which will substan-tially lower the costs,” adds Dr. Selvamurthy. Looking at a swathe of by-products from Jatropha and their commercial use across sectors, the doctor’s prescription rocks. In Guns 'n Roses-speak, all they need is just a little patience.