Mohandas Krishnan is no stranger
to the biofuel sector. He is the representative to Ethiopia of Land and
Sea Development, whose activities span from bamboo to biofuels and has
travelled the African continent and seen the potential as well as
success from biofuel development. Moreover, with roots from one of the
world’s leaders in the indusrty, India where almost a million acres are
in cultivation and the price is on par with the subsidized oil imports,
Mohandas is keen to detail the promise of this new wave of enthusiasm.
His piece below is a window into how Ethiopia can benefit.
Biofuels hold promise for the world over. From the cleaner energy generation potential for the big polluters of the industrialized world to the agri-business opportunities for the developing, everyone stands to benefit.
But Ethiopia posseses some unique characteristics that make it especially fertile to benefit from developing the industry. One plant, the jatropha tree, which is already pervasive in many areas of the country, is particularly promising. Its just a matter of harnesing the available resources.
FERTILE GROUNDS
Ethiopia’s soil and water resources poise it to be a biofuel leader not just on the African continent, but on a global level. In its strategic biofuel developemnt document the Ministry of Mines and Energy posits that there is roughly 23 million hectares of land suitable for production.I f we take a look at the generative numbers specific to the country, they add up to huge productive potential.
In lowland Ethiopian weather the jatropha tree has two to three main fruit-bearing periods annually starting from the third year of the plantation. Each fruit bearing cycle is about 4 months. During these periods, the tree produces flowers every two weeks that mature in 30 days.
Moreover, under the right conditions, the improved tree produces between 0.5 to 1 Kg of nuts every month. On a plantation scale the yield of the nuts per hectare per annum for the improved tree is about 9 to 13 tons of seeds. This results in a yield of crude Jatropha oil per hectare per annum of about 3.5 tons. Since the conversion of Jatropha oil into bio-diesel is in the proportion of 1:1, the yield of bio-diesel per hectare of Jatropha farm is estimated at about 3.5 tons per annum.
PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT
Jatropha can grow and survive in most soils. Wetlands, sandy loam soils with high concentrations of clay and stones as well as high salinity areas are the notable exceptions. However, it is jatropha’s low moisture needs that mean it does not have to compete for lands used for food and other crops.
The fear for food security is not a serious subject as the land area available for food crops in Ethiopia is much greater than that identified or suitable for biofuel crops. In the tropical weather the trees can be grown almost anywhere, so long as there is enough water available for continuous fruits production. Production of about 1 million tones of biodiesel per year can be accomplished on about 300,000 hectares Jatropha plantation.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Jatropha plantations quickly restore ecosystems and bio-diversity when used for forestation and or reforestation projects. They also improve rainfall absorption and prevent soil erosion. Moreover, birds and various insects are attracted to the flowers of the tree; bees can even extract nectar from the flowers for honey production.
The development of an average size of crown cover (canopy) by the tree reduces soil moisture evaporation and prevents the complete dryness of the soil thus preserving soil nutrients. Furthermore, the trees regularly shed old leaves that decompose and release nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium into the soil to enrich it. Earthworms also find the base of the tree attractive and safe, and compliment in soil eneriching.
It is difficult to imagine that the jatropha tree has been valued only for fencing, hedging, and for its medical properties for so long. No one anticipated that common jatropha would enjoy international attention though it has been present on the African Continent for centuries.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS
Developing jatropha plantations will create many jobs. Harvesting of the nuts or fruits from the tree is done every month, throughout the year and over the 40 to 50 years of the fruit bearing life of the tree. It has been estimated that one able-bodied young man or woman will harvest about one hectare of a jatropha farm per month. After harvesting, the dry nuts are then sent to the distribution centre for sales where purchasing groups are to be engaged to do the job. hen the carting of the nuts from the purchasing centres to the processing factory requires massive logistical activities that will involve a lot of labour. Using microfinance approaches, benefits can acrrue far down the supply chain.
On a macroeconomic scale, producing biodiesel will help the country’s current account whichever way it is used. Its export potential will raise the foreign currency earnings to a level that can sustainably pay for the oil imports. If the complimentary industries are developed to use the product for domestic use as in Brazil, then the biodiesel will simply replace large volumes of oil imports. It will also be cheaper as the ex-factory price difference between imported diesel and biodiesel is about 25%.
FERTILIZERS AND FOOD PRODUCTION
Organic fertilizers can be produced from the pressed cakes of the jatropha nut to improve the yield of crops. These organic fertilizers are rich in Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NKP). Organic Fertilizers when produced in large quantities and supplied to all farmers will improve the yield of agricultural crops and improve the agricultural industry’s contribution to the gross domestic product.
With 82% of the population engaged in the agricultural sector but with very low production of fertilizers in the county at the moment, a properly managed jatropha biodiesel industry can make a huge impact. This will help to stabilize food prices and inflation which will eventually affect the stability of the local currency in real terms since part of the foreign revenue earned by the country is consumed by food imports.
CULTIVATION TARGETS
By cultivating 80,000 hectares of jatropha within two to three years it will yield about 240,000 metric tonnes of diesel, sufficient for about 14.5% of the National requirement. Thereafter, the levels will be stepped up until a target of one million hectares is reached within the ensuing three to four years. From this vantage point it is foreseable to generate the country’s total diesel requirements as well as export surpluses.
On a continental scale, Africa could one day supply much of the world’s energy needs through biodiesel production. ::
Comments
(1)
Willing to Explore Jatropha in Ethiopia written by Sivakumar , February 09, 2009
Hi Mr Krishnan, Nice reading your article on Jatropha.I have in the recent past did som eresearch on Jatropha in India on a laymen basis and found that it is very remunerative.But India is unable to make it feasible and viable due to many reasons.We are interested in setting up Jatropha farms in Ethiopia from Indian Investors.I am a Merchant banker my self and would assist the setting up there.Please guide me in detail for such a venture in Ethiopia,including Commercial Oil sale tie up and Agricultural subsidies and concessions from Ethiopian Govt. Thanks and regards S.Sivakumar
Nice reading your article on Jatropha.I have in the recent past did som eresearch on Jatropha in India on a laymen basis and found that it is very remunerative.But India is unable to make it feasible and viable due to many reasons.We are interested in setting up Jatropha farms in Ethiopia from Indian Investors.I am a Merchant banker my self and would assist the setting up there.Please guide me in detail for such a venture in Ethiopia,including Commercial Oil sale tie up and Agricultural subsidies and concessions from Ethiopian Govt.
Thanks and regards
S.Sivakumar