Jatropha Farming

Create Business Plan & Source Funding

Our Services & Consultancy

 Farm or Business - Jatropha Fuel & Energy Supply

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 Jatropha Farming  

The first thing to remember about Jatropha farming is that:

 (1) There are considerable variations in Jatropha performance and production figures from country to country. For example, the best seed in Brazil (Growth & Form 4) that produces amazing results there may grow very poorly in a country with a more temperate climate. By the same token, one cannot expect a grapevine that grows well here in South Africa to produce the same results in Latin America. There are farmers with massive plantations in many parts of the world that produce inadequate results.

(2) Although Jatropha grows in harsh conditions it doesn't necessarily mean that it will be commercially viable in a first world country. Like with any crop Jatropha still requires quality planting material, standard farming practices and good crop management. In certain areas of Africa and India, where Jatropha is grown, there is a shortage of water but lots of land and cheap labour. So the calculations relative to income and expenditure may still balance.

(3) It is difficult to establish going rates for the import and export of seed for extraction purposes because local markets normally absorb most of their local produce. In 2005 we did intensive calculations for the importation of seed for local extraction of oil. The outcome to say the least was dismal.

(4)  As a result of outdated Oil Expellers, claims as to the quantity of oil extracted vary considerably. While the oil content of certain seed varies, some equipment can extract more oil than others and then of course there's chemical extraction and so on.

In conclusion Jatropha is location specific and production figures are determined by proper agricultural and business practices. It is therefore unwise to interpolate figures from one particular location to another.

Before you start you may download our Questionnaire called Jatropha Feasibility and Market Research in Preparation for Business Plan & Cash Flow Analyses. This form will make the job of doing your business plan a lot easier. Not all the information is required for the Business Plan because some of it is Market Research that will get you to know whether or not your Jatropha Project is feasible.

Location: The infrastructure surrounding your Jatropha Plantation is very important. When you download our Jatropha Farming Cash Flow Analysis Spreadsheet for estimating the income and expenditure to be derived from Jatropha Farming you will notice that there is a row for estimating the cost of transport of seed from your plantation to the nearest Expelling Facility. Without taking proximity of infrastructure into consideration the entire project becomes less cost effective.

The other issues addressed are as follows. (Please note that this Questionnaire applies to Jatropha Feasibility studies worldwide)  Download Questionnaire

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 A. Biographical Information

 1. Map of Location:

  Attach.

 2. Roading:

    Type of roads.

    Road infrastructure.

    Rail.

    Distances from farms to possible Expelling location.

 3. Security of Land Tenure:

    Do the people/trusts you’re going to deal with own the land?

    How is ownership vested in individuals/companies/trusts?

    Can one enter into contracts to protect an investment and if so with who?

    Is there enforcement for people to meet contractual obligations?

    What recourse does one have should they fail to abide by agreements?

 4. Infrastructure:

    Telecommunications.

    Availability of Broadband.

    Access to power.

    Cost of housing/rental accommodation.

 5. Government:

    Taxation/ How much/ How will a company be taxed?

    Is company registration/formation in the Location obligatory?

    How much red tape is there?

    Is the Government pro foreign Investment?

    If so is there any assistance that can be sought?

   Are promises of assistance a red herring? Is this protracted and unattainable?

 6. Labour:

    Minimum wages.

    Average Wage.

    Laborers Wage.

    Supervisor/ Induna’s Wage

    Do you need to pay for Security?

     Paydays - Weekly/monthly?

    Unionized?

    Are they friendly and compliant?

    Or are they malicious and/or hostile?

    Location of labour to proposed enterprise.

    What are the chances of finding reliable & trustworthy staff to run the operation

    in ones absence?

 7. Crime rates:

    Thefts/Car thefts/equipment thefts.

    Personal insecurity/robberies.

    Can one walk around freely or is there the danger of being attacked?

     Worker theft. Safety of equipment. 

B. Farming Information

 1. Climatic conditions:

    Rainfall

    Temperature

    Soil Conditions

    Access to water & irrigation

 2. Land/Topography:

    Undulating

    Steep

    4X4 required

    Wet season Muddy/Dry/Accessible.

 3. Jatropha:

    Price of seed being paid to farmers.

    Quality of seed/ Percentage of oil.

    Confirm hectare.

    Check number of trees.

    Spacing.  

2. Nursery:

    Is the land flat enough to establish a nursery operation. Is it close to the main

    road/highway?

    Distance of farm to Nursery.

    Availability of Water and cost.

    Availability of Good Soil/Potting/Planting mediums.

 3. Planting/Transplantation Method:

    Manual   

    Post Hole Borer

 4. Other farming methods being used for:

    Pruning

    Fertilization

    Irrigation 

5. Harvesting:  

    Harvesting Methods/How are they currently harvesting Jatropha?

    What are they using to put it in after harvesting?

    How are the seeds transported?

    Around plantation.

    On the road.

    How do they lift onto and/or off at different locations?

    What containers are they using?

    How are seed packaged for transportation

 6. Intercropping:

    Is Intercropping taking place?

    If so, what sorts of crops are being grown between?

    Value/Selling Prices.

    How are the Jatropha farmers making their money now?

    How are they surviving, well or sustenance?

 7. Other:

    Cost of Local Equipment: Ute, Front end loader, Fork Lift, Pallets, Diesel,

    Diesel Generator, Diesel Motor, Ute, Potting Bags, Fertilizers, Planting

    Mediums, Nursery Equipment etc

We can assist you with consultation on the following: Site Investigation, Soil Analysis, Soil Chemical Characteristics, Agro Climate Data, Site Preparation, Propagation, Nursery Activities, Weed Control, Soil Preparation, Planting, Transplanting, Crop Development, Pruning, Pests and Diseases, Fertilization, Irrigation, Maintenance and Post - Planting Assessments. Creation of Business Plans. Contact Us

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 C. Create Business Plan & Source Funding. 

Please bear in mind that your Income,  Expenditure and ultimate Profit will largely be determined by the tree spacing and whether or not you intend to Intercrop. Our Jatropha Farmers Cash Flow Analysis will enable you to determine your income on the basis of the following Jatropha Tree Spacing:

    Space between Jatropha Trees:

Our Services & Consultancy.

Our consultancy covers all aspects Jatropha farming towards the purpose of procuring Biodiesel and includes some of the following activities:

1. Creation of Business Plan
2. Preparation of Spreadsheets in respect of Income, Expenditure & Cash Flow Analyses
3. Site Investigation
4. Agro-Climatic Data
5. Biographical information
6. Labour recommendations and supervision
7. Equipment, Machinery & Vehicles required
8. Tools, Power Tools & Implements required
9. Containers & Handling Equipment required
10. Nursery Activities
11. Site Preparation
12. Soil Preparation
13. Germination Instructions
14. Propagation
15. Irrigation
16. Planting
17. Transplanting
18. Crop Development
19. Pruning
20. Weed Control
21. Pests and Diseases
22. Fertilization
23. Harvesting recommendations
24. Storage and handling of seed
25. Transportation
26. Planting Assessment
27. Maintenance and Post Maintenance of Plantation
28. Marketing & Sales

As a service we also provide a Jatropha Farming Handbook and Plantation Management System Diary for duplication. We also assist in the raising of Venture Capital for funding of the project. Once the Business Plans have been prepared we will present the Project Details to our Investors locally and abroad.

The nature and scope of our consultancy covers all aspects of Jatropha Farming and can include Management of the farm. Hereby excluded are Jatropha Oil Extraction and Jatropha Biodiesel Manufacturing.

Should you be satisfied with our initial consultancy, we would be pleased to assist with Oil Extraction and Biodiesel Manufacturing at a later stage. The preparation of our final report should take within the region of two months. Our fees depending on your requirements would be namely:

¨     On and Off Site Consultation and Preparation of Business Plans  

¨     Start-Up Project Management, Farming Management, Periodic Consultation and Training of farm Managers and Employees

¨     Entire Project Management, Farming Management, Consultation and Training of Farm Managers and Employees

The above exclude the cost of travel and accommodation for the purpose of Site Investigation, Soil Tests, Agro-Climatic Data and Biographical Information, all of which are required for preparation of the Business Plans.

Contact: Bernie Pavitt

Jatropha Project Manager

Office: 011 880 6960    

Mobile: 073 078 1065      

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 D.  Launch Operation.

Before launching a Jatropha Operation I have to stress the importance of acquiring quality plant material. It would be the most futile exercise to commence such an operation without having seed with certified benchmarks. The Jatropha Organisation of South Africa has access to the most improved seed available anywhere in the world.    

E. You may also contact us for the following: 

1.       Download Jatropha Germination Instructions.

2.       A Jatropha Farming Handbook .

3.       A Plantation & Management System Diary. 

Evaluation and monitoring should be carried out at all times. Your company should subscribe to Management by objectives meaning that clearly defined short, medium and long term goals must be established. A detailed Plantation & Management System Diary must be kept. If you’re remiss at doing this carry a small Tape Recorder/Dictaphone and record your observations.

Information taken from your Plantation and Management System Diary can then be summarized in order to carry out Quarterly Evaluations which in turn can be used to assess your progress in conjunction with prescribed production and financial goals.

F. Farm or Business - Jatropha Fuel & Energy Supply

For those wish to make Jatropha Biodiesel for their own personal or business consumption, the following tables may be used as a guide as to the amount of land you wish to use, the literage of Jatropha oil to be generated monthly and annually and the number of kilograms of seed you will need to plant.