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HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday wanted cultivation of Jatropha, the bio-diesel plant, in 40,000 hectares on a trial basis during the current year in rain shadow areas in ten districts.

The chief minister reviewed the progress of cloud-seeding operations and bio-diesel plantation with officials concerned.

Farmers should be encouraged to take up Jatropha plantation with drip irrigation, Reddy felt.

Officials informed that the government would bear all the expenditure incurred by below poverty line (BPL) families in cultivating Jatropha, through schemes like Indira Prabha and Watershed.

Also a comprehensive action plan to undertake research on Jatropha was under implementation involving premier research institutions like CRIDA, ANGRAU, NBPGRL, ICRISAT and DOR.