Campaign 5000: Cultivation of Jatropha for Poverty Reduction in the NWP of Cameroon

Originating in the Caribbean, Jatropha is widely used as a valuable hedge plant to protect against crop damage by animals in parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Jatropha establishes easily, grows well on marginal soils and produces seeds for over 50 years. Cultivation does not take away much of farmers time in growing food crops and does not take farmland out of food production.

Jatropha is drought resistant and naturally discourages browsing livestock because their leaves are toxic to animals thereby improving farm productivity by reducing crop losses.

Jatropha's shallow spreading roots reduce soil erosion and is useful in reclaiming eroded land. Jatropha seeds have an oil content of more than 35%. The quality of the oil is such that in Mali and Burkina Faso, with little processing, it is used to produce electricity in several rural communities.

Jatropha grows wildly in the NWP. It is planted along roads and homesteads as living fences to keep out animals from farms.

Older villagers know about its medicinal properties (its is used in treating wounds). The seeds do not presently have any commercial value to villagers.

Jatropha oil can be used for soap and biodiesel production. The seed cake residue is an excellent source of high-grade organic fertilizer that can be used as a substitute for imported high-priced chemical fertilizers.

Spin off businesses will develop when entrepreneurs realize its importance. For example, in Nepal, jatropha oil is used for cooking in specially designed stoves, thus reducing the need for wood, and protecting the environment. In Mali, the oil is used in Lister engines for electricity generation.

Providing free Jatropha seedlings to 5000 households to plant as fences on their land reduces our cost of buying land and paying workers.

Farmers become responsible for maintaining their plants, as there is a reliable market and profits for their seeds. Providing free seedlings to farmers will ensure our constant supply of Jatropha.

Given the benefits of the poverty-reduction 'jatropha system' with its emphasis on the ecological and income-generating effects, the project will lead to direct income generation for farmers and indirectly to poverty reduction.

We have negotiated a preferred supplier status with the Cameroon Baptist Convention who buy our oil to make soap for their hospitals across the country.

Women buy our oil for frying dough and soap production. The demand for soap at affordable prices outweighs supply.

No company uses Jatropha oil in Cameroon now. Establishing a network with farmers for supplying us seeds will enable us to cut down on costs and provide oil to other soap companies, especially during the rainy season when kernel cannot be evacuated from rural areas due to bad roads.

We sell our soap in Santa, Pinyin, Awing and Baligham markets. Several stores in these areas carry our soap.

In August 2007, our manager and head of production unit will be undertaking further training in soap making in The Netherlands with PUM sponsorship. They will study everything from quality control to marketing.

PUM is also giving us expert advice. This will significantly boost our competitiveness.

Our factory is less than 200 metres from the tarred national highway which links the Northwest Province to other provinces and major cities. Our access to industrial electricity is an added advantage.

Our rural location reduces our overall production costs.

Jatropha provides alternative sources of income from seeds of a plant presently with no commercial value. It protects crops from animal damage; is used for soap and biodiesel production; and jatropha cake can be used as organic fertilizer.

It is locally produced and 100% renewable, thus providing economic and environmental benefits to communities.

I hold a Ph.D in Development, with a concentration in Rural and Economic Development.

I am currently the owner of a company Global Placement Services www.gplacements.com, that provides opportunities for developing country nationals to take seasonal jobs in the US.

Global Placement Services hopes that the income gained from working in the US will enable them start businesses in their home countries.

While growing up in Cameroon, we witnessed a lot of poverty around us. This has been one of the motivations for starting AIF-CIG with the goal of creating jobs for young people. My experience running my company, is beneficial in the management of AIF-CIG.

Rural areas in Cameroon have no electricity, and this problem is not going to be solved anytime soon. Therefore, biofuels present an opportunity for those living in rural areas to produce their own fuel that can assist them in electricity production using diesel generators.

Babungo and Ntem have a combined population of about 25,000 inhabitants. Most people own their own homesteads, where Jatropha is planted around the compounds as hedges.

In the second year, we are targeting 5,000 households to plant Jatropha around their compounds and fields.

Unemployed young people are contracted during the planting season to transport Jatropha cuttings on bicycles to areas unreachable by vehicles to distribute to farmers.

Women are the primary beneficiaries since they own and harvest the Jatropha around their homes. Selling the seeds will provide additional income to help their families. Women will be contracted to make raffia baskets for harvesting of jatropha.

Schools, churches, hospitals, and municipal authorities are encouraged to plant Jatropha around their compounds to raise funds for improving the schools, the hospitals etc. They will be able to supplement their income to improve upon their activities. Municipal authorities will be encouraged to plant Jatropha along roads to raise money for their projects.

This is something that is replicable in other areas. In 5 years, this project could provide a significant boost to the income of 10-15000, thus providing them with additional income to pay for their children’s education and medical care.

This is appealing because it does not need any additional financial investment from the farmer. All that is needed is the willingness to plant jatropha for those that don't already have it around their farms and houses.