Jatropha as Bio-Diesel Shrub
Written by WTJ on November 7, 2007 – 12:27 pm -Jatropha is not palm tree, which is largely planted in Malaysia for palm oil extraction. Jatropha is a poisonous Central American shrub. Its seeds are used to extract biodiesel fuel in Philippines, India, and China.
On Tuesday, crude oil broke the record surpassing $97 a barrel. Malaysia has been subsidizing the fuel costs. The increase of fuel price had been a big burden for Malaysia. In September, Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (Mardi) announced it is studying the possibilities to cultivate Jatropha at large-scale to produce bio-diesel. Jatropha is chosen because of its characteristic of pest resistance, long lifespan (40 years), can be grown on poor, arid soil, and also able to produce bio-diesel that can be used by vehicles. As a solution for alternative fuel, Malaysia government had fund this research for RM300mil (~USD100mil).
Last month, Sarawak Land Development Minister Datuk Dr James Masing announced that Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) was carrying out joint research on Jatropha with Mardi. Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Sclcra) had been asked by the state to test which species of the plant is suitable to grow in Sarawak. On the other hand, another state in the country, Sabah, also announced that Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) was testing the potential of Jatropha cultivation.
Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui announced yesterday that Government is giving out 300-acre site to Sabah to plant Jatropha Carcus.
Other uses of Jatropha Curcas are soap production and traditional medicine. The effect of large-scale planting of Jatropha Curcas to the soil and environment is unknown.
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Tags: Agriculture, alternative energy, biodiesel, Energy, Environmental, Fuel, jatropha, malaysia |
November 17th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Yes! It is true that Jatropha is the right answer for many. It can be succefully cultivated in MAlaysia.
Jatropha can be cultivated in good and marginal soils. For economic yields irrigation is compulsory. In proper management from fourth year onwards a minimum of 3 tons can be expected from an acre of land. We standardised the cultivation of Jatropha and applying the lates technology for good yields and it is successfully working in INDIA. Malaysia also should put it efforts to increase the plantation of Jatropha curcas for the benefit of one and all. But Jatrophs needs good management, good inputs, proper Pest & Disease management, Scientific tree training and proper harvesting, storing techniques for good and quality yields.
November 17th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
good management indeed is very important.
November 20th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Malaysia is a bit late jumping on to the jatropha bandwagon but better late than never.I strongly believe that jatropha is the answer for biodiesel producers whose profit margins have gone up in smoke due to volatile cpo prices.It has almost similiar properties to diesel and burns much cleaner as well.They should allow large scale planting of only jatropha for biodiesel to support the industrial and transportation sectors while palm oil should be just for its edible purposes.
January 16th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
[...] Jatropha Seedlings Will Be Given Written by WTJ on January 16, 2008 – 7:26 pm - Since Malaysia government funded research in Jatropha as biodiesel, the government were encouraging more farmers to take part in planting Jatrophas. Don’t buy [...]
February 19th, 2008 at 3:40 am
jatropha is the hottest issue in the world now, so as in Malaysia. We have a jatropha showroom in Kuala Lumpur, our jatropha is a new hybrid which is genetic clone. The trees are early flowering, high yield and of multi branching. My contact is
tuntanny@gmail.com
tanny@jatrophaglobal.com.my
and our agronomist will be very glad to present to you why our hybrid is a better choice. looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.