FG set to increase Jatropha crop use in environment protection, biofuel feedstock
The Federal Ministry of Environment is set to take steps towards protecting the environment through the efficient use of Jatropha crop.
At the end of the recently held inaugural edition of ‘The Environment Dialogue’ tagged; Diversification of the Economy, The Role of Jatropha, the panelists stated that Jatropha has been identified by the Nigerian Bio-fuel Policy and Incentives 2007 as the most preferred non-food plant for bio-fuel feedstock for production in the country.
This Policy as well as the NNPC’s Renewable Energy Division were set out to link the agriculture and energy sectors and promote job creation, technology acquisition attract foreign investment in the bio-fuels industry.
Amina Mohammed Minister of Environment said that the ministry is working with the framework that is being set by the Ministry of Agriculture for the diversification of the economy.
“We are working with the frame work that is being set by the Ministry of Agriculture for the diversification which spark the incredible interest that everyone has now to find a solution to diversification,” she said,
Amina further said, “One of the things we want to do is to reduce emissions and reclaim our desert. We also want to see an economic value by creating jobs and creating economic value chains that will provide returns for people that have jobs. We see this by empowering young people because they are the group of people that will participate in growing the Jatropha seeds.”
Similarly, Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, in his speech said the diversification of the economy, putting in view role of the Jatropha seed is a joint effort with the Ministry of environment.
He noted that the Jatropha seed is a non-edible product which also generates fuel and is environment friendly.
“Our job is to liaise and work with the Ministry of Environment to make the production of the crop seedlings available and in that synergy, we begin to satisfy the need of diversification of the economy,” Ogbeh said.
The Jatropha seed, if efficiently utilised can fetch about a 100,000 litre of diesel every year.
The Agric Minister urged peasant farmers to take advantage of planting the Jatropha seedlings on their farmland. He explained that the plant can be used to fence farm land as it drives away cattle from invading farmland.
Experts say the Jatropha crop has numerous benefits. One of the advantages of the crop is that each and every part of the plant can be used in one way or the other. The life span of the Jatropha crop, according to experts is 40 years, and as each year goes by, the yields of the crop increase.
ISAAC ANYAOGU