What To Know About Jatropha?

Three years ago, the Philippine Government was aggressively pushing for the cultivation of jatropha curcas (tuba-tuba) as a source of renewable fuel. This was considered a good move because Goldman Sachs cited jatropha as one of the best candidates for future biodiesel production. The plant, which produces golf-ball-size fruits that contain oil, can be grown in any kind of soil. And it does not need much water and fertilizer.

In a country with little public support for agricultural production and modernization, the importance given to biodiesel production was considered a crucial policy shift that could revitalize the dying sector.

Leading the campaign for the propagation of jatropha in the country is Philippine National Oil Co.-Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC), which tied up with the military to set up a 500-hectare nursery in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. In Mindanao, the corporation is looking at some 1.2 million hectares as its main hub for jatropha production.

To know more about the potential offered by this little known plant, here are some facts for possible investors and entrepreneurs:

1. Potential of Jatropha as an energy crop?
   
   Jatropha has great potential to grow on lands that are not productive for food crop. If inter-cropped with Castor, income and oil production starts from first year itself. Jatropha yields oil in smallest time frame as compared all other trees.
2. What are the advantages of Jatropha cultivation?
   
   It can be done on fallow lands, requires less amount of water and yields oil in 3 years.
3. What are sustainable models of Jatropha cultivation?
   
   It can be planted in fields of size ranging from 1 to 10 acres for one farmer to 1,000 acres for large plantation companies. Income will be proportionate to size of field.
4. Jatropha nurseries, Clonal propagation?
   
   Jatropha Saplings are generally prepared from Seeds. These can also be produced from branches. Hybrid and Clonal varieties are also available.
5. Seedlings and cuttings of plantation?
   
   Tree grown from seeds have a tap root, which helps in droughts and cyclones. It can collect water from deep soil and anchors the tree. Cuttings do not have tap root, but seeds are obtained much earlier.
6. Commercial nurseries: plans and costs?
   
   These are done in Green / Net Houses. The production cost of sapling is higher. Individual farmer produces saplings in field, which is much cheaper.
7. Controlled environmental chambers?
   
   It helps as initial growth of saplings. It is good and more saplings survive well in fields.
8. What is the configuration of Plantation?
   
   Jatropha is planted in 3 X 3 meters square configuration. This allows us to plant 400 plants per acre or 1,100 plants per hectare. Castor is planted as intercrop for first two years.
9. Can contract farming be done in Jatropha Plantation?
   
   Contract farming works well where the supply is much more than demand and the processing machinery is expensive and processing is difficult. It is not the case in Jatropha. Farmers may sell it to someone offering higher price than the contract price.
10. Which are the oil seeds best suited for BioDiesel manufacture?
    
    These are Jatropha Curcas, Pongamia Pinnata, Mahua, Castor, Simarouba, Kokam etc. Jatropha Curcas, Pongamia Pinnata and Mahua are plantations which give non edible oil. Castor is a 6 month crop which gives non edible oil and is grown as intercrop within Plantations. Simarouba, Kokam is a plantation which gives edible oil.
11. What is the yield from 1 hectare of Jatropha / Castor Plantation?
    A farmer can get 2.5 tons of Castor seeds in first and second year and 2.5 tons of Jatropha seed from third to fifth year. A farmer can get higher yields after 5 years. Jatropha will yield seeds for 40 to 50 years.
12. Can the oil be used as it is in Power Generating Station?
    
    In Power Generating sets, oil is burnt at high temperature (100o C or higher), at which viscocity reduces considerably. Any unit generating 1 megawatt or higher can burn the oil directly.