Jatropha curcas news 1999

15. 12. 99 Zambia An evaluation of the Jatropha activities in Zambia had the following results:

A trip of farmers and agricultural extension staff to the Jatropha project of BUN in Mutoko district of Zimbabwe gave a strong support to Jatropha activities in Southern Province.  All participating farmers planted Jatropha hedges or plantations, one woman even started a plantation of 1.500 trees from cuttings.

There are many Jatropha plants available in the region. They were most probably planted by returning workers from Zimbabwe. Some are more than 30 years old. They are a good source of seeds and cuttings for a dissemination programme.

The population is very much interested in using Jatropha oil for soap making or lighting. The economy of soap making is very convincing. Using Jatropha oil as fuel is not an option for the moment.

Some organisations work already with Jatropha:

• Africare, Mrs. Phyllis Jones-Changa, Country Representative, P.O. Box 33921, Lusaka, Zambia, Tel: 01 29 36 34, Fax: 29 36 31, e-mail: africare@zamnet.zm
• Mount Makulu Research Station, Mrs. B. Lubozhya, Principal Agriculture Research Officer, P. Bag 7, Chilanga, Lusaka, Zambia, Tel: 78655/611/242/008, Fax: 278130 /241
• National Council for Scientific Research, Mr. Mwamba, Acting Director, P.O. Box 310158, Chelston, Lusaka, Zambia, Tel: 01 28 10 13, Fax: 01 28 35 02 / 28 / 084

Some more information can be found on the Zambia page of this Jatropha website

24. 10. 99
Guinea Conakry
The regional UNDP asked CNESOLER of Mali to conduct the adaptation of Indian Lister type engines to be run by Jatropha oil. Info by Yaya Sidibé, the director of   CNESOLER.

21. 10. 99
Mali
With support by UNDP, CNESOLER, the Malien Centre of Renewable energies, is executing the installation of multifunctional energy platforms, which use Jatropha oil as fuel. 10 units are installed so far. Info by Yaya Sidibé, the director of   CNESOLER.

3. 10. 99
Zambia
In Suthern Province, along the Zambian side of Lake Kariba, the ASIP Support Project starts a campaign to improve the exploitation of the Jatropha plant, mainly by production and sale of Jatropha soap. More information by Dierk Hesselbach:   Project in Choma

30. 9. 99
Zimbabwe
At the Zimbabwean side of Lake Kariba, around the town of Binga, within "THE BINGA TREES PROJECT" started a small Jatropha project a couple of years ago: Jatropha oil is used for ligthing and for soap production, where the soap is very well sold in Harare.
Contacts:     Titia & Jan Warndorff.

28. 9. 99
Zimbabwe
The Tabudirira Training Centre in Mutoko, near the border of Mozambique, is exploiting the Jatropha plant by soap production. They even have an acces in Jatropha oil. Contact:     Reinhard Stueckler
Tabudirira Training Centre, Box 231, Mutoko, Tel: ++263-72-2455, Fax: ++263-91334543

14. 9. 99
Folkecenter Denmark opens branch in Mali
Mali Folkecenter est ouvert à Bamako
Actually le Folkecenter for renewable energies in Denmark has opened a branch in Bamako, Mali. One of the working fields of the center is the "The Jatropha System" in the regions south and center of Mali. In the frame of closer cooperation the Minister of Energy of Mali will visit Denmark in October 1999.
visitez: Folkecenter Denmark     Mali Folkecenter or via Folkecenter Denmark

5. 9. 99
Belize
Since 1997 the Janus Foundation is executing a Jatropha project in Belize. 1998/99 2.000 plants were planted in a plantation, another 10.000 are ready in a nursery to be planted. The first aim is the creation of 25 ha of Jatropha plantation.  See Janus Project Belize. The oil extracted with a simple oil press is going to be used for the project workshop (vehicles, building machinery) as well as for the generator set. It will also be used for tests and demonstrations of soap production, and for high priced products like lubrification oil, oil for chain saws or as hydraulic oil.
Contacts:    Alex Laasner, Janus Foundation Belize, P.O.Box 74, Belmopan, Belize, Central America,
or visit the website of Janus Foundation.

9. 3. 99
Jatropha against nematodes In Senegal, West Africa, tests were made to fight against nematodes (Meloidogyne javanica) in tomato cultures by adding Jatropha press cake to the soil. Remarkable reduction of the population of nematodes was reported. (Drame, Seck, Touré: Influence de diverses matières organiques sur le développement des nématodes parasites de la tomate au Sénégal; FAO, Bulletin de liaison N° 13, 31 mai 1998, Coopération Régionale pour le Développement des Productions Horticoles en Afrique) radhort@sonatel.senet.net

15. 2. 99
   bagani GbR finished the elaboration of a CD-Rom about the Jatropha System. It contains a slide show, the interactive presentation of the major topics of the Jatropha System with short video clips and the most important documents (MSWord97) of the Jatropha project in Mali. It may be ordered at
or write to Henning@bagani.de

16. 2. 99
The "Jatropha System" enters University. In a lecture on "Plants of the Tropics and Subtropics producing renewable raw materials" for agriculture students on  "The Jatropha System" was presented. For the summer term a special lecture with external lecturers is prepared. Details by Dr. Ludwig Pülschen

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