Why You Should Start a Jatropha Curcas Farm

I get asked many times: is Jatropha curcas a viable agro-crop in Nigeria?

My answer always is: Yes, it is.

I know. It’s not cocoa. It’s not coffee. And it’s not tobacco. But even though it’s poisonous, it’s the sweetest seed in the world right now.

It’s no other than Jatropha Curcas.

The jatropha curcas may not be the most popular crop in the world at the moment but it’s Usain Bolt-fast on the way to the top of that chart.  And positioning yourself as a jatropha farmer could be the way to reaping profitably from ‘the crude oil of the future.’

1.       Jatropha curcas is ideal for the African terrain

Actually, it is perfect for all terrain. It is being cultivated in Mexico, in Brazil, in Australia and if Eskimos were as imaginative, it would also do just fine over there. The Jatropha’s high resistance to aridity made that possible. It can grow well in the deserts, in wastelands, in gravelly sandsoil, in stony farmlands, even on rocky patch grounds.

No parcel of ground lying around you is waste. It can be converted to a Jatropha curcas farm and profitably so.

2.       Jatropha oil is the crude oil of the future

Many of us will never own an oil well. But we all can own an oil field, should we chose to. Thanks to the Jatropha curcas. Its seed contains oil that can be processed to produce a high quality biodiesel fuel which vehicles that use a standard diesel engine can run on.

It’s no fantasy fiction predicting what would happen in 50 years’ time. Cars, even aircrafts, have started running on biodiesel from Jatropha’s oil.

3.       Jatropha has a short time to maturity

Jatropha is no wonder plant from heaven but it is the closest you’ll ever get to it. The Jatropha curcas takes the shortest time to maturity. In fact, nine days after planting, it has complete germination. Within 9-12 months of the first year, its seeds are ready to be harvested.

4.       It doesn’t require too much water

This awesome plant would even grow properly all year with just enough water to satisfy the thirst of a new born baby for a week. It doesn’t require too much water or rainfall. The most water it would ever require is in its first year or so, after which it needs little to no nurturing. 

Little wonder why it would survive in the desert.

5.       Plant once and reap for life

      

      The Jatropha curcas is like the cocoa tree; once it is nurtured to maturity you only go to fetch your seeds at harvest. It’s almost unbelievable. Almost. You don’t have to plough or plant regularly as the Jatropha has a life expectancy of 40 years.

   

      That’s right. For the next forty years or more, you’ll continue to milk your golden cow.

6.       It doesn’t require the use of pesticide

Pesticides and fertilizers have become a daily part of most farmers’ lives. They are expensive and often times have to be subsidized but they are essential to the wellbeing of the crops and the final yield. Even the cocoa plant is no exception.

But the Jatropha is a special crop that acts as its own pesticide and fungicide. Its seed is poisonous, not only to humans but also to pests. So, be rest assured. Plant the jatropha and worry not about pests.

7.       It can be inter-cropped

Okay, relax. So much has been said of the crop being poisonous that many of you out there may begin to get a little scared of even touching it.

It is not the devil’s sugarcane. It can be touched. It can be planted side by side with other cash crops like coffee, fruits, even vegetables.

8.      You make money all year round

As much as this incredible plant can endure the worst possible conditions, it is best though if it is planted in a farmland with good soil moisture and sufficiently high temperature. If this is provided, you may experience harvesting several times in a year.

9.       It is easy to cultivate

Jatropha is a simple to nurture plant. It doesn’t require any special training. No bogus technicalities. No prior fifteen year experience.

No need to start chasing any fungicide or pesticide marketer. Even its seed is simple to extract using the Universal Nut Sheller.

10.   There’s a huge market

There’s already a big market for the Jatropha seed and its oil. 

True, the oil is not edible for humans but it is really appealing to the wallet. 

The oil can be processed into biodiesel which can be used to fuel combustion engines. There are automobiles and aircrafts that are already running on the biofuel obtained from the Jatropha oil. In no distant future, all vehicles, flying or not, would run on the jatropha’s oil. 

Why? Because it’s environmentally safer and cheaper than the crude oil.