One ton of Jatropha’s seeds can produce up to 600 liters of bio-diesel with proper management.

Hargeisa (Wajaalenews) As the global community has grown more aware of the potential to substitute renewable energy sources for depleting oil resources, the Jatropha tree has become recognized as a productive and efficient producer of bio-diesel.

The Jatropha Tree does not require more than 250 mm of water per a year and, as it can produce fuel, presents one such possibility for Somaliland growing demand on diesel.

Farmers in west & nortern Somaliland region – the country’s food basket – told the Somaliland Times that ongoing fuel shortages translate into a food crisis for somaliland

In the second half of 2011, hundreds of farms were shut down or damaged due to a lack of diesel, a basic requirement for crops irrigated by water pumped up using wells.

Jatropha Curcas is an inedible, oil seed-bearing tree that is often used to produce bio-diesel fuel. Originating in South America and in dry, tropical areas, the Jatropha Tree is a hardy shrub that grows well in semi-arid conditions, in areas with low rainfall and dry soil. Its seeds contain an inedible oil that can be converted into bio-diesel fuel. One ton of Jatropha Curcas seeds from a properly-managed tree can produce up to 600 litters of bio-diesel fuel.

MR Najah a farmer and consultant for ngo Agricultural Center in Hargeisa said “there are some lands which can be utilized for planting this tree particularly the western region such as Wajaale ”Horahadley Agabar

Mr. Najah continued, “The Jatropha Tree suits this land; rather than leaving the land to remain useless and unused, we can plant this tree and invest it correctly without taking advantage of agricultural land for food products. As important as simply planting the tree is the presence of plants and factories to extract vital oils from it, and this is where the role of the government and other organizations comes in. The use of Jatropha oil as an alternative to bio-diesel would represent a significant and positive shift in somaliland’s economy,” he added “Personally, I asked one Sudanese farmer friend to bring me seeds from this tree. Once I get the seed, I will start to plant it in hageisa nortern horo,hadley dry area.”

the Minister of Agriculture Mr. GEEDOOLE has tried to plant this tree inside his Ministry compound and succeed his ambition and other useful plants such as APPLE DATES and many others. I appreciate the Minister his productive and successful mind to enhance the Somaliland Agriculture. I appeal the farmers of S/landers to visit the Ministry compound to achieve a fruitful idea and good guidance.

“Our people suffer from poverty and food insecurity on a large scale; they need agricultural products that can raise the level of available food for people.

As for the development of strategic plans to plant the Jatropha Tree in the future, there are no plans to support such projects in the Ministry of Agriculture development sector because, as I mentioned, previously we only focused on the development of agriculture that could meet the demands of citizens – not the demand of the western countries.”

The spread of Jatropha

Malaysia was the first state in the world to invest in the Jatropha Tree and extract oil from it. It then spread to the United States of America, Canada, Europe, India and the rest of the world’s countries.

North Sudan is an Arab country seeking to produce bio-diesel from Jatropha seeds, and has turned the effort into a national project. The sales manager mr najah tahir, told hilaacmedia news   that his country is currently seeking to plant one million Jatropha trees, to be increased to one billion trees over the next six years.

With proper management, one ton of Jatropha Curcas seeds can produce up to 600 liters of bio-diesel.