This paper presents the results of investigation carried out in studying the fuel properties of Jatropha seed husk and its gasification feasibility for open core down draft gasifier. Jatropha seed husk was converted to producer gas in an open core down draft gasifier whose performance was evaluated in terms of fuel consumption rate, calorific value of producer gas and gasification efficiency at different gas flow rates. It was found that producer gas calorific value and concentration of CO, along with gasification efficiency, in general, increased with the increase in gas flow rate. The maximum gasification efficiency was found to be 68.31 % at a gas flow rate of 5.5 in 3 h(-1) and specific gasification rate of 270 kg h(-1) m(-2). Studies revealed that Jatropha seed husk could successfully be used as feedstock for open core down draft gasifier. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.