Indian farmer, Mr. C. Rajasekaran is successfully powering an irrigation pump using oil from the seeds of Punnai trees (Calophyllum inophyllum) grown on his farm.

An article in The Hindu reports that Rajasekaran’s 5 acre farm in Nagappattinam district of Tamil Nadu was once considered unfit for any cultivation. Now the land supports 35 different tree varieties, irrigated by a pump that runs on biodiesel.

Rajasekaran collects seeds daily from his Punnai trees and dries them for a week. After this they are broken open to expose the kernel which is dried for a further 10 days before the oil is extracted. The cost of producing a litre of oil less than US $0.20

“In a year I am able to get 75 litres,” says Rajasekaran. “The surplus oil is sold to other farmers. After extracting the oil, the cake is used as manure for crops.”

“I find there is no remarkable difference between a punnai oil and diesel run five Hp motor engine. In fact the engine running on the oil emits less smoke,” he says.

Read the full story: Using bio fuel to run an irrigation pump for five acres