Jatropha Tree Planting

Community Enterprise Development

The goal of the Jatropha Tree Planting project is to improve the agricultural practices in the Nyanga district and establish activities that will lead to future income generation. In 2005, ASAP Africa helped communities in Nyanga District to plant 100,000 Jatropha plants through a project funded by Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation.

The idea of Jatropha natural fencing has been tested in plantations scattered throughout Africa, Central America, and Asia, and has proven to be effective. Jatropha trees are drought resistant, grow easily in marginal soil, and naturally discourage browsing livestock because their leaves and stems are toxic to animals. In the Nyanga District, communities are thankful for the opportunity to give their gardens a much-needed barrier from goats!

The trees even help improve the quality of the land. Because of their shallow spreading root system, Jatropha trees reduce soil erosion and can be useful in reclaiming eroded land. They also produce a high-grade organic fertilizer during the oil extraction process, with mineral composition comparable to that of chicken manure.

Additionally, pressing the nut of the plant produces high-quality oil that is used for soap making or as lantern fuel in rural areas. The quality of the oil is such that in Nicaragua there is a large commercial project that is producing diesel from the Jatropha seed oil. The Science and Technology Development Ministry is planning to use Jatropha "to help alleviate fuel shortages in the country through the manufacture of bio-diesel," according to the Bio-Safety Board of Zimbabwe. We are excited to report that the communities participating in ASAP Africa's Jatropha project are preparing to provide the seeds for this national expansion!

This perennial plant has diverse uses that will improve agricultural practices in the Nyanga District for years to come.

The following chart illustrates the many uses of Jatropha trees.

Read more information about Jatropha from the Centre for Jatropha Promotion and the Jatropha Information Service .