Showcasing the Pongamia value chain in India to Zambian Government Representatives

To secure permits for import of elite Pongamia pinnata from India to Zambia BetterWorld followed a rigorous plant quarantine and phytosanitary checks. We took representatives from the Forestry Department and Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services (PQPS) from the Government of Zambia to India to inspect the sapling nursery in India , tree plantations, post-harvesting processing and end-use.

Visiting plantation at JSW in Karnataka

Seed processing involves pressing dried de-hulled pongamia seeds.

Pressing Pongamia seeds

Pressing produces a clear pure oil, which can be used in simple generators and smelters or further processed into biodiesel for blended use in modern cars, trucks or machinery.

Dr Prasad with fresh pressed pongamia oil

Which can be put directly into a generator to provide low cost off-grid power.