Losing the plot

This report by Friends of the Earth Europe examines the impact of jatropha biofuel cultivation in India, specifically focusing on the state of Chhattisgarh. It argues that the drive to replace 20% of diesel consumption by 2017 has led to the forced displacement of tribal and lower-caste communities from common lands, often without consultation, while the crop itself has frequently failed to thrive due to poor understanding of growing conditions.

• The Indian government set a target to replace 20% of diesel consumption by 2017 using biodiesel, identifying jatropha as an ideal source because it is a non-food crop that can grow in dry areas.
• The Indian Planning Commission earmarked 13.4 million hectares for jatropha, including 3 million hectares of forest land and 4 million hectares of "waste land". However, much of this designated "waste land" actually provides essential community resources like village forests and commons for food, fuel, and timber.
• In Chhattisgarh, the promotion of jatropha has resulted in the forced removal of tribal adivasis and lower-caste dalits from community lands. Evidence from the Kanker and Bastar districts shows hundreds of families displaced from lands they had farmed for generations, with some reports of villagers being beaten and arrested for resisting.
• Despite government and corporate claims of high profitability, experts and studies suggest jatropha is not economically viable as a monoculture. It requires fertile soil, manure, and pest control to achieve optimum yields, and many plantations have failed to produce significant harvests.
• The expansion of jatropha threatens food security by displacing food crops on arable lands and increasing competition for water. It also risks exacerbating the crisis of farmer suicides, particularly in Maharashtra, where contract farming leaves small-scale farmers vulnerable to crop failure and debt.
• Various corporate entities, including the Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, and the UK-based D1 Oils, have invested in jatropha through joint ventures and contract farming. D1 Oils was notably accused of "biopiracy" after genetic varieties of jatropha were allegedly stolen from Indira Gandhi Agricultural University.

APA

Lahiri, S., Burley, H., & Bebb, A. (2009). Losing the plot. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/jatropha_in_india.pdf

Chicago

Lahiri, Souparna, Helen Burley, and Adrian Bebb. Losing the plot. Friends of the Earth International, 2009. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/jatropha_in_india.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lahiri |first1=Souparna |last2=Burley |first2=Helen |last3=Bebb |first3=Adrian |title=Losing the plot |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=December 2009 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/jatropha_in_india.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lahiri2009losing, author = {Lahiri, Souparna and Burley, Helen and Bebb, Adrian}, title = {{Losing the plot}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2009}, month = dec, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/jatropha_in_india.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }