Jatropha Production Jatropha Production in Koulikoro, Maliin Koulikoro, Mali

A Proposed Study of a Weed and A Proposed Study of a Weed and

its Agricultural, Economic, and Energy Benefitsits Agricultural, Economic, and Energy Benefits

BackgroundBackground

Travel to Mali Fall 2008 (ENTS Travel to Mali Fall 2008 (ENTS Internship)Internship)

Work with Mali Biocarburant, a Work with Mali Biocarburant, a “pro-poor” Biofuel Development “pro-poor” Biofuel Development Business in Koulikoro, Mali Business in Koulikoro, Mali (more about them in a moment)(more about them in a moment)

Mali Biocarburant specializes in Mali Biocarburant specializes in developing Jatropha; a native developing Jatropha; a native weed with exciting potential as weed with exciting potential as an efficient biofuel. (I will an efficient biofuel. (I will explain why)explain why)

Work to compile a Socio-Work to compile a Socio-Economic Baseline Survey (I’ll Economic Baseline Survey (I’ll explain what this entails)explain what this entails)

OutlineOutline

What is Jatropha?What is Jatropha? Who is Mali Biocarburant?Who is Mali Biocarburant? What will I be doing?What will I be doing? (A few more points about the logistics of (A few more points about the logistics of

it all)it all) Larger Implications and Research GoalsLarger Implications and Research Goals

Why Jatropha, Why Mali?

• Native to Mali (local familiarity), originally used as a hedge crop

• Low inputs, ability to grow in marginal soils• Environmental benefits: erosion prevention,

deep root system, fixes nitrogen• Intercropping potential• Strong pest resistance• Three years to establish for sustained biofuel

production

Jatropha L. Curcas

Mali Biocarburant

• “Producing biofuel that not only supplements farmers’ income and contributes to poverty alleviation but that will also be used locally without taking a toll on the environment.”

• Create Malian Jobs

• Local focus

• Limit Fossil Fuel Consumption

Production Process

Seeds Brought to Farmer CollectiveBiofuel Processing Plant (and my future office)

Oilpress – many different technologies for this

BIODIESEL!!!!(Hugo Verkuijl - Directeur Generale of Mali Biocarburant)

Socio-Economic Baseline Survey

• Purpose: To understand the current Socio-economic status of the farmers currently working with Mali Biocarburant

• Goal: To create a resource that can be used for future comparisons to understand the progress and development of Jatropha in Mali over time

Method for Socio-Economic Baseline Survey

• Create questionnaire• Identify Sample

Population• Conduct Field

Interviews – Based in Koulikoro

• Data Analysis and Implications

• Policy Speculation Farmers planting a Jatropha Seedbed in Koulikoro, April 2007

Elements for Consideration

• Income Survey – Material Holdings

• Land Survey – Good land v. marginal

• Production History – Land Use History

• Producer Expectations

• Best-fit models

Long Term

• Better Understand Potential for Growth of Jatropha as an source of energy, income, and poverty alleviation

• Ground-up Analysis of Producer Experience

• Creating Connections

• Carbon Assessment

• Future Business Development

Thank You!

Sources• www.malibiocarburant.com• www.mali-mali.org/images• EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES BY PLANTING ENERGY -Roundtable on

Bioenergy Enterprise in Developing Regions – UNEP, December 2007• http://www.ei-van-columbus.nl/• http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/world/africa/09biofuel.html?pagewanted=print NY

Times September 9, 2007• Hugo Verkuijl – Directeur Generale, Mali Biocarburant SA