Namibia Workshop Presentations

 

Two Workshops have been held on the 3-5 June 2010 and 29 – 30 April 2013.

 

2.1 Abstracts of Namibia Workshop (June 2010)

 

2.1.8 The Jatropha supply chain - gaps between supply and demand

 

Presenter: 
Clive Coker
Jatropha Africa

 

Jatropha Curcus is a drought-resistant perennial, growing well in marginal / poor soil.   

  • Rainfall: Grows on semi arid land unsuitable for forestry  or agricultural use. Mean annual rainfall: 300-1000 mm or more.
  • Altitude: 0-500 m
  • Mean annual temperature: 20-28 C.
  • Soil type: Grows on well-drained soils with good aeration and is well adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient content
  • Fruiting tree life of 40 to 50 years

Key Points in favour of Jatropha

Key Points against Jatropha
  • Jatropha oil can be blended with Diesel and Aviation Fuel
  • Jatropha oil is an attractive feedstock for aviation fuel
  • Jatropha oil can fuel modified diesel engines with additives
  • Jatropha can be grown on land never used for food production
  • Jatropha is a non-food crop, so demand for Jatropha need not distort food prices
  • Jatropha grown in Africa since the 16th century (not alien).
  • Jatropha can bring agricultural and technical jobs to rural areas.
  • Countries can reduce fossil fuel dependency and increase GDP
  • Jatropha plants take 5 to 6 years to reach mature yields ( Long term investment thinking is required ) 
  • Jatropha is toxic – non food (Educate rural communities to avoid harm)
  • Jatropha is grown by some farmers on land suited to food (Set policies to encourage Jatropha farming to start on land not previously used for food production & Set policies to prevent biofuels being grown in a way that they displace food production. 

 

 

Local benefits of Jatropha:

  • Growing, harvesting and processing of Jatropha offers a lot of jobs for local labour.
  • Jatropha plant and seeds are toxic, so they are not eaten by goats or other animals. This means that a hedge of Jatropha plants can keep animals outside the fields where food crops are grown
  • There is scope for some food crops to be grown in between Jatropha in year 1. This intercropping can lead to food production (e.g. Beans and peppers)
  • Jatropha oil can be used in oil lamps, and in the production of soap, providing more jobs
  • Press cake charcoal can be used as cooking fuel in local communities.

 

Regional Benefits of Jatropha:

  • Growing, harvesting and processing of Jatropha offers a lot of jobs for local labour.  This can reduce drift of young people from villages to large cities.
  • Processing Jatropha oil into higher value products e.g. (Pure Plant Oil, Biodiesel, Aviation Fuel ) can provide skilled jobs.
  • Growing Jatropha can remediate denuded soil – of relevance to open cast mining.
  • Biofuels can provide Corporate Social Responsibility benefits and reduce fuel costs to regional companies.

 

Global Benefits of Jatropha:

  • Using vegetable oil instead of fossil diesel or aviation fuel has many advantages. The CO2 emitted during combustion is first captured by the plant during its growth. This helps to stop the global CO2 concentration rise in the atmosphere.
  • Over time CO2 becomes tied up in the wood of Jatropha trees and in the leaves which enrich the soil, and thereby reduces the concentration of a greenhouse gas.  Soil remediation.
  • The large scale production of biofuels from vegetable oils can lead to some nations developing with more independence from fossil fuel oil producing countries
  • Non food biofuels such as Jatropha, grown on land that has not been used for food production, or as fences around food crops, can result in no direct impact on food prices.

 

Supply Chain Development includes:

  • Establish relationships with users of Jatropha products
  • Improve Jatropha, high yielding and disease resistant variety
  • Expand our links with Jatropha farmers
  • Establish oil expelling facility
  • Establish charcoal production facility
  • Establish soap production facility
  • Develop biodiesel and PPO production facility
  • Develop electricity supply systems for villages
  • Provide skills training for operation, maintenance and roll-out.