Jatropha for Biodiesel in Kenya

BID TO INTRODUCE JATROPHA IN MALINDI, KENYA NEEDS A RETHINK

The bid by the Italy's Nuove Initiative to introduce Jatropha species in about 50,000 hectares in Malindi calls for a new study of the species.

While protesting against the same on Tuesday 22 March 2011, Environmental groups raised arguments that this would lead to more emissions of carbon than the biofuel it is intended for.

The International interest in J. curcas as a drought-tolerant, fast-growing, renewable bio-energy crop has grown significantly in recent years and this is what might have greatly influenced the introduction of this species. The proponents of Jatropha the world over have consistently argued that since the species can grow in areas of low water supply and tropical Africa’s semi arid regions with harsh climates and soils of relatively low physical and chemical quality. It has been alleged that the cultivation of Jatropha is capable of controlling land degradation and reversing deforestation thereby alleviating poverty, stemming rural urban migration and create employment opportunities for poor people and those in Arid and Semi Arid Land.

Kenya’s most valuable assets are the rich Agricultural lands and a unique physiography and the abundant wildlife.

In 2006, tourism had grown to be the largest Kenya’s foreign exchange earning sector followed by flowers, tea and coffee with the major contributor to tourism being the wildlife and the physiography. Therefore, when the introduction of Jatropha seems to pose danger to Kenya’s wildlife and their ecosystems, it calls for a rethink. This will mean that Kenya’s foreign exchange earning sectors can be tampered with and this should not be taken lightly.

First and foremost, the introduction of a species or transfer of a species from one part of the world to the other has always left more harm than good. A case is in Kenya in 1970,s when the Proposis Species was introduced in Kenya to solve fuel wood problem. Though it managed to solve the intended problem, the species has become a problem to eliminate. Plans to get rid of it have been defeated as the species has been found to overgrow anything that is on its path. Going by this situation, a lot of work still needs to be done to look into the feasibility of the Jatropha curcas before being introduced for biofuel.

Secondly, the species, a member of the flowering plant in the spurge family, is described as poisonous. Jatropha oil is not suitable for human consumption, as it induces strong vomiting and diarrhea and therefore needs to be carefully introduced and members carefully sensitized about the side effects. It is also argued that it would lead to a lot of carbon emissions more than the intended oil production. A fully grown Jatropha absorbs about 18 pounds (8kgs) of carbon dioxide every year. Given that 2,500 shrubs of Jatropha can be grown in 1 hectare, there will be a resultant 20 tons of green-house gas sequestration per year per hectare and this is not desirable. The species also tends to leave no useful by products and does not prove so useful in Kenya. The seeds contain only about 27-40% of oil that can be used for biodiesel and are a source of highly poisonous toxalbumin curcin.

Although the species is reported to use very little water, it is not well documented exactly how much water it need during the first year since it has been said that it needs water at its initial introduction stages.

The species, has however been banned from Western Australia where it has been classified as highly invasive and its use in biodiesel production has been prohibited. It has been considered poisonous as its seeds or nuts and oil from them are not edible.

Though Jatropha is not an indigenous Kenya’s species, it seems to have been introduced in Kenya before approximately a century ago going by the age of the species available. This is a good sample for research and those interested should capitalize on the availability of this species in Kenya to conduct another research that would prove that the plant should be introduced for biodiesel in Kenya.

Kenya faces serious environmental related problems such as deforestation, soil erosion, desertification, water shortage, and domestic and industrial pollution amongst many others. Jatropha Species has been reported to control land degradation and reverse desertification and it might be a good venture for Kenya.

Let the interested investors carry out enough research on this plant so that the people may be assured of its prosperity.