Starting in 2008, Mission said the Jatropha Curcus plantation would yield 25,000 tonnes of low-cost feedstock per year to help underpin its biodiesel operations in Malaysia and China.

The existing plantation covers 22,000 acres (8903 hectares) of land across the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka through contracts with more than 5000 farmers.

But Agro plans to increase this holding to 100,000 acres by the end of this year, which it would fund via revenue and bank loans.

Jatropha Curcas is a fast-growing, drought-resistant plant that can grow in poor quality soil, meaning it does not deprive the use of arable land for food production, according to Mission.