About Jatropha Curcas L in Southern Africa                        

The success of Jatropha in South Africa will provide a profitable farming opportunity for Farmers and associated communities within their vicinities. It is envisaged that smaller farmers and suburban block owners will join in the cultivation by the establishments of Co-Operatives. Jatropha is also a natural nitrogen fixer when planted along with other crops in symbiosis.  It has in fact increased food production in third world countries where non cultivated land has been developed with Jatropha together with edible crops. This dismisses the widely held view that Jatropha has or will displace food crops.

Practices that are expected to change will be the farming of Jatropha together with sheep or other animals or crops. Animals do not browse Jatropha and sheep or goats will be especially beneficial in keeping the grass down between the trees. There are many crops that benefit from being grown and harvested in symbiosis with Jatropha. A Jatropha Planting Industry will develop similar to that of Pine Forests and a Harvesting Industry similar to that of Hay Silage Contractors. The introduction of Jatropha will thus bring about a great source and opportunity for farmers and Land Owners in South Africa to supply the economy with raw materials for the biodiesel industry and in doing so earn an income off the land that's related to the ever increasing fuel market.

Jatropha is mainly targeted at the Biofuel industry. Production of Jatropha biodiesel will assist the government and the country in meeting its directives that require a minimum level of biofuel as a proportion of fuels sold.

A Jatropha project is thus part of a larger and long term strategy in that it will lead to the establishment of Jatropha Farms, an Oil Extraction Industry and the manufacture of biodiesel & other related products.

1. Adaptation to climate change:

In accordance with South Africa and the world’s response to climate change, the agricultural and forestry sectors are the key areas for setting goals to guide and advance action on climate change. Establishing Jatropha plantations in South Africa will fulfill key performance targets in both forestry and agriculture. A forest sink that produces an agricultural crop has dual performance benefits towards adaptation to climate change.

2. Reducing emissions and creating carbon sinks:

Emission Reductions: The use of biodiesel produces fewer harmful emissions compared to that of fossil fuels. This means that it keeps our air cleaner and reduces our contribution to greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Jatropha will contribute towards the reduction of carbon emissions.

Creation of Carbon sinks: Jatropha forests capture and store carbon in a manner that prevents it from being released into the atmosphere for the full duration of the plants life which is in the region of 40 to 50 years.

3. Capitalizing on business opportunities arising from climate change.

The main business opportunities related to the production of Jatropha are Seed Production, Harvesting, Oil Extraction, the Manufacture of Biodiesel and the Sale of Fertilizer and other associated products such as glycerin.

A decided advantage of Jatropha is its ability to thrive on marginal land. Farmers and landowners in most regions of the North and tropical East of South Africa will have the opportunity to introduce a new and profitable crop. This can be done in conjunction with their existing farming endeavors as Jatropha can be grown at wider distances apart so as to enable a farmer to retain sheep or other animals. Farmers will be obliged to draw their labour force from local and decentralized communities in which their farms are situated. This will in turn impact on unemployment (and all its negative effects) within those vicinities.

4. Government and land management sectors working together to respond to climate change.

There are large tracts of under utilised land in possession of government and the private sector that can be used to establish Jatropha plantations. Unemployed people or even low offending prisoners could be enlisted to assist in clearing and establishing plantations. Land grants from Government and other land management sectors could be issued for certain duration to foster and encourage private enterprise to develop and profit from Jatropha in a joint effort to respond to climate change.

It is also envisaged that vast land on the African Continent will play an important role. Representation from Africa Empowerment Groups is being solicited to embrace the opportunity as a strategic source of African empowerment. By this it is meant that land can be used to advance people from Africa and their business initiatives. Youth education and training programs providing expertise on Jatropha and related enterprise will lead to an effective use of undeveloped land resulting in productive and rewarding commercial possibilities. African people will benefit from the associated commercial development and thus be seen at the forefront of climate change. 

We are consulting for African countries who are developing Jatropha plantations as a source of African commercial augmentation. A further means of communication is being sought to approach these farmers collectively in support of collective development.

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