Jatropha Curcas
Jatropha is a valuable multi-purpose crop known to have spread from South America by the Portuguese explorers. The plant, now found in almost all warm regions of the world, can be grown almost anywhere but does especially well in West Africa, Southern Africa and India. It grows quickly, and is hardy and drought-tolerant. Jatropha establishes itself easily even in arid and waste land where other crops would not do well. Jatropha naturally repels both animals and insects, and therefore not requiring intensive management for its growth and maintenance. In most African countries it is used as a fence to protect gardens and fields from animals.
Jatropha seeds, once processed, have similar physical and chemical properties and a similar energy value to normal fossil diesel. This can be blended with conventional diesel or can be used directly in some diesel-powered vehicles and machines. More than 30% of the small seeds which it produces is nonedible oil.
The many advantages associated with Jatropha make it one of the main crops currently being promoted for biodiesel production in several countries, globally. In some of these countries the major weakness of the Jatropha option is that it is labour-intensive to grow and refine. This apparent weakness is, for Zambia, a major advantage in view of the widespread poverty since its cultivation would generate large numbers of agricultural jobs. Jatropha can therefore be used as a means of economic empowerment, social upliftment and poverty alleviation within marginalized communities.