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Jatropha Curcas

INTRODUCTION

Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) was formed in 1969 and incorporated under Sabah State

Enactment bill 23 in 1981, with the primary objective is to develop agriculture lands for the resettlement of

landless people in Sabah. The Board was restructured in 2002 as a rural development agency and from then

on implementing integrated land development projects particularly that related to poverty eradication

programmes in the State.

The main activities of SLDB that involves development of smallholders include developing and

managing oil palm estates for the participants of its Pre-planned and Clustered Smallholders Projects,

Settler’s Land Rehabilitation Project and as the Implementing Agency for Mini Estet Sejahtera (MESEJ)

Project for the Rural Development Ministry.

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JATROPHA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The SLDB involvement in jatropha development because of three main factors as follow;

Conviction that based on the facts and information gathered the crop would become a profitable

business venture in future like rubber and oil palm.

Jatropha cultivation can be made as another economic activity for the rural folks because it is easy to

be planted, managed and its ability to grow even on non-productive soil.

The Government aspiration that SLDB become the main pioneer for jatropha development in Sabah.

SLDB already had its short- and long-term programmes prepared for the development of this

cultivation as part of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) launched by the Prime Minister on 29

January 2008.

The plan consist four main components as follow;

1) The creation of Jatropha Research and Development Centre.

2) The creation of Jatropha Cultivation Materials Production Centre.

3) Jatropha Plantation Development.

4) Jatropha Oil Refinery and Biodiesel Plant Development.

The Plantation Industry and Commodity Ministry that is responsible for the jatropha development in this

country also has already agreed to SLDB become as the main agency for the national jatropha development.

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JATROPHA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

The establishment of Jatropha Research and Development Centre would be the main component of

the SLDB Jatropha Development Project.

A working paper titled "Proposal for the Creation and Development of a Research and Development

Centre in Sabah" had been prepared and presented during the 2nd Jatropha Pioneer Project Working Team

Meeting held at the Plantation Industry and Commodity Ministry in Putrajaya on 13 February 2008.The

working team had agreed and support the proposal made by SLDB for the creation of the proposed Research

and Development Centre and that to develop it as a national project. The Ministry would strive if required to

get the financial support for financing part of development cost of the centre.

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JATROPHA CURCAS as BIOFUEL

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that is safe, biodegradable and reduces air pollutants, such as

particulates, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon. There are many benefits in using biodiesel rather than

petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel emits up to 100% less sulphur dioxide, a major component of acid rain,

and 80%-100% less carbon dioxide than traditional diesel. Biodiesel reduces smoke particulates up to 75%.

Pure Biodiesel is biodegradable and breaks down as fast as sugar. It breaks down four times faster than a

regular diesel. Biodiesel is safer to transport and handle and is non-corrosive to human contact.

Since biodiesel can be used in conventional engines, the renewable fuel can be directly replace

petroleum products hence reducing the country’s dependence on imported oil.

Biodiesel is also more lubricating than diesel fuel, which increases the life of your engine. Engines

running on biodiesel normally have similar fuel mileage. The auto ignition, fuel consumption, power output,

and engine torque are also similar to engines running on traditional diesel.

Global production of biofuels is growing steadily and will continue to do so. The global biodiesel

market is estimated to reach 37 billion gallons by 2016 growing at an average annual rate of 42 percent. The

rapid development of the global biodiesel industry has been closely observed by countries interested in

stimulating economic growth, improving the environment and educing dependency on imported oil. The

greatest challenge to the widespread deployment and use of biofuels is developing dedicated energy crops

that are cost-effective, easy to sustain and can produce greater yields. Such energy crop that produces

biofuels and holds particular promise for sustainable development and a sustainable environment is

Jatropha.

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THE FUTURE FUEL

Jatropha is considered one of the best potential sources of biodiesel. Its cultivation is a boon for rural

development. The benefits are many.

It yields seed from the second year for the next 30 to 45 years, with oil content of 30 to 35%. This oil can be

refined and converted to biodiesel. Biodiesel does not pollute as much as petro-diesel and is therefore

environmentally friendly.

Jatropha plant-based systems help in land development, rural employment, providing organic manure and is

a source of renewable energy. The whole plant helps improve land fertility and fights soil erosion.

The Jatropha is a multi-faceted plant and is native to Sabah.

1. Leaves used as an ethno-medicine and feed for silkworms

2. Latex for making ink and as an ethno-medicine for arresting bleeding

3. Seeds are one of the best sources of biodiesel

4. Deoiled cake can be used as organic manure

5. Bark/Twigs are a source of tannin and contain medicinal qualities

Carbon Savings

Biodiesel produced from Jatropha is one of the most promising solutions for tackling the growing carbon

emissions from transport. SLDB hopes to promote Jatropha as a crop that will enhance economic

empowerment, social upliftment and poverty eradication in the rural parts of Sabah.

Sustainability

Jatropha is a valuable multi-purpose crop to alleviate soil degradation, desertification and deforestation,

which can be used for bio-energy to replace petro-diesel, for soap production and climate protection, and

hence deserves special attention. Jatropha can help to increase rural incomes. Self-sustainability and

alleviate poverty. There are various plants that are suitable for bio-diesel production. Out of all these plants,

Jatropha, which produces non-edible oil, must be regarded as the hardiest and best able at handling stress.

That is why it is an ideal plant for biodiesel production.

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Why Jatropha? The Characteristics

Low-costs seeds.

High oil content.

Short gestation period.

Growth on good and degraded soil , low and high rainfall areas.

Seeds can be harvested during dry season.

Plant size makes collection of seeds convenient.

Nature friendly makes perfect for biodiesel.

Easy to maintain.

Able to produce seeds up to 5 tonnes at each acre of land every year.

Durability, fast growing and perfect to be planted in tropical climate such as Malaysia.

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CULTIVATION

A visit to the jatropha curcas commercial trial plot in Binakaan which was opened in September this

year (2007) showed some of the local and imported jatropha curcas seedlings already planted in the trial

plot. The testing is done by either planting these seedlings in the plot by plantlet or by stem or by direct

planting techniques.

The work is carried out under the supervision of the SLDB officer-in-charge of the jatropha curcas

project in Binakaan, Makunsai Murudan, who is going around collecting samples of jatropha curcas seedlings

from district to district for the purpose.

"The reason we collect local seedlings from every district where the plant is found is to check which

of them is more productive and suitable than those imported from the peninsula or Indonesia," he said.

Based on his findings so far, the local jatropha curcas plant collection at the plot presently shows

almost simiar growth patterns but depending on the weather conditions and water availability.

"Jatropha curcas needs a place where there is enough water and reasonable hot weather," he said,

adding he has collected samples from Sook, Keningau, Tenom, Tambunan, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and

Kudat and would be going to the East Coast to get more samples.

But based on this finding most jatropha curcas plants are found in Kota Marudu where they are

popularly grown as fencing for the village houses. SLDB is pioneering the commercial jatropha curcas

cultivation in the State, as part of its programme to assist the government eradicate hardcore poverty in the

rural areas through development of land with commercial crops.

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It currently has more than 10 estates under its care which have been cultivated with oil palm under

its three development programmes -- the leasing scheme the pre-land land development and clustered land

development - throughout Sabah involving more than 2600 participants.

These programmes, implemented since its inception, have helped the participants earn an income

beyond the hardcore poverty line. There are participants now earning a lucrative four-figure income.

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THE PROCESS FLOWCHART OF JATROPHA CURCAS

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THE LIFE CYCLE OF JATROPHA CURCAS

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Jatropha Curcas : Seminar

The SLDB plans to enter into large-scale cultivation of a perenial shrub, Jatropha, next year as an

alternative to oil palm for bio-diesel production. A talk on Jatropha Cultivation on Sabah Soil by Borneo Alam

Ria for SLDB at the Pacific Sutera Hotel, also present were Sook Assmblyman and SLDB Chairman Tan Sri

Joseph Kurup, Perlis' Arau MP Datuk Seri Diraja Syed Razlan Jamalullail, Borneo Alam Ria Chairman Abdul

Ghani Datuk Mohd Yassin, its Board of Director, Haji Mohd, Gahani Datuk Mohd Yassin, its Board of Director,

Haji Mohd Kamil Kassim, Felcra Berhad Sabah General Manager, Haji Samian, Mohd Ali and Economic

Planning Unit (EPU) Deputy Director Teo Poh Loon, among others.

Our General Manager, Jhuvarri Majid told Daily Express, SLDB would be opening a 20-hectare (around 40

acres) trial plot for jatropha and a research centre in Nabawan next month.

This would be done in collaboration with Borneo Alam Ria Sdn Bhd and its affiliate Indian-based Nandan

Biofuels, which would provide the initial jatropha crop seeds and technical expertise in cultivatinga healthy

harvest of jatropha seeds.

SLDB would also send its officials to Hyderabad in India to study the potential of the plant and its related

technoloies there. Although jatropha is something native to the interior of Sabah, this is still something new

to SLDB. SLDB's idea is to position SLDB where SLDB can produce seeds for contract farming, meaning the

local people can use our seedling for planting under contract farming and SLDB buy back from them.

The joint venture project is expected to start once a memorandum of understanding between the three

parties concerned is sealed.The 20-hectare trial plot would be the first of its kind for jatropha in Sabah. It is

to enable SLDB to see whether this plant can survive in SLDB local context, before SLDB see how to maximise

its production.

If SLDB plan to venture into large-scale jatropha cultivation on a commercial basis in Sabah becomes a reality,

it would be the first in the state. SLDB are going to position ourslves as the jatropha seed producer. Jatropha

can be an alternative to oild palm, as a source for bio-fuel production. Meaning to say if jatropha can

contribute to expectation, SLDB will be able to reduce the need for oil palm as a source for bio-fuel.

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SLDB would be looking into how to commercialise this crop. Which are not suitable for planting rubber and

oil palm. SLDB believe jatropha is suitable to be cultivated in the interior areas like the Keningau and Sook

plains where there is less rainfall and the soil not that good.

Other than the interior districts, SLDB is also looking at other districts like Kudat and Kota Marudu which

have similar weather and soil conditions for the possibility of cultivating jatropha as an income-generating

crop. This would be timely with the Government's efforts to eradicate poverty particularly in the northern

part of Sabah.

And given the fact SLDB are geographically very near to the market for bio-fuel like Korea and Japan which

have already indicated their interest to buy whatever SLDB produced.SLDB going to setup a refinary onece

the crop proves to be suitable for large-scale commercial basis cultivation.

According to the research done by the Nandan Group, there are no known impacts of the jatropha plant to

the environment.Nevertherless SLDB will embark on a plan to study thoroughly this crop (jatropha) first

before proceeding to any full-scale operation.

This year will be our trial period, and, if the outcome from our trial project is good, next year will be our big

day.