Jatropha Curcas in India
Jatropha Seeds harvested from Train Repair Station after 10 months of Cultivation in Erode, India
Case Study “Jatropha Curcas” commissend by Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (GFU) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH
Frankfurt April 04
Hartlieb Euler David Gorriz Hagenstr. 16 60314 Frankfurt, Germany 0049 69 9435070
2
Results - Summary
Discussed single effects of the Jatropha System are demonstrated individually; a combination of the expected results remains a task ahead. Results of past Jatropha projects in Nicaragua, Belize and India in terms of actual economic, social and environmental effects have been mostly not noticeable, poor and disastrous. They were more projection than reality driven. Projects have contributed to R&D, a better expertise and sensitisation on Jatropha System. However, accurate information from lessons learnt and their dissemination are insufficient. Inconsistent approaches and exaggerated expectations concerning yields, input-output relations, resulting incomes and a lack of knowledge and economic considerations were dominant reasons for failures. Even though drought resistant, the plant requires water, sun and it needs nutrients and pruning, to produce fruits, fertilizer and biomass. Thus, each application has been mostly limited on either the “commercial monetary” side, “social effects” or “soil rehabilitation, reforestation and low-input” aspect. The likely potential of different “Jatropha and related systems” was partially proven but not integrated and brought into practice. Possibly productivity with dominant genotypes is too low, to allow dissemination at present market prices without a reliable and specific framework created by Government International cooperation activities on Jatropha should focus the Indian experience, where a major promotional Government program attempts to cover all relevant aspects of the system with a multitude of stakeholders from top to bottom.
Case Study “Jatropha Curcas” commissend by Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (GFU) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH
Frankfurt April 04
Hartlieb Euler David Gorriz Hagenstr. 16 60314 Frankfurt, Germany 0049 69 9435070
2
Results - Summary
Discussed single effects of the Jatropha System are demonstrated individually; a combination of the expected results remains a task ahead. Results of past Jatropha projects in Nicaragua, Belize and India in terms of actual economic, social and environmental effects have been mostly not noticeable, poor and disastrous. They were more projection than reality driven. Projects have contributed to R&D, a better expertise and sensitisation on Jatropha System. However, accurate information from lessons learnt and their dissemination are insufficient. Inconsistent approaches and exaggerated expectations concerning yields, input-output relations, resulting incomes and a lack of knowledge and economic considerations were dominant reasons for failures. Even though drought resistant, the plant requires water, sun and it needs nutrients and pruning, to produce fruits, fertilizer and biomass. Thus, each application has been mostly limited on either the “commercial monetary” side, “social effects” or “soil rehabilitation, reforestation and low-input” aspect. The likely potential of different “Jatropha and related systems” was partially proven but not integrated and brought into practice. Possibly productivity with dominant genotypes is too low, to allow dissemination at present market prices without a reliable and specific framework created by Government International cooperation activities on Jatropha should focus the Indian experience, where a major promotional Government program attempts to cover all relevant aspects of the system with a multitude of stakeholders from top to bottom.