NAN-H-56
Jatropha
By Zubairu Idris
Katsina, Jan. 15, 2017(NAN) Jatropha farmers have urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the construction of a bio-fuel refinery to provide alternative source of energy to the country.
The Chairman, Jatropha International Merchant and Dealers Association (JIMDA), Katsina State chapter, Sen. Ahmad Sani-Store, made the call on Sunday in Katsina.
“The previous administration proposed building of a bio-fuel refinery in Kogi, which didn’t see the light of the day in spite of the importance of the project.
“We are calling on the government to revisit the plan so as to encourage jatropha production because of its economic value,’’ Sani-Store said.
He said that would also create job opportunities for millions of people in the country.
He also urged the government to provide incentives for farmers to enhance jatropa production.
“Jatropha farmers are ready and willing to join hands with the government to provide alternative source of energy to Nigeria.
“All we need is support from the government to achieve the desired goal,’’ he said.
He pointed out that apart from the bio-fuel, jatropha could also be used to produce insecticides, cooking oil, shampoo, soap, detergents, candle and cosmetics, among others.
Sani-store said JIMDA had already entered into agreements with some foreign firms to establish Jatropha processing factories in the country.
He revealed that jatropha could be planted with other crops which he said helped to reduce soil acidity and increase its fertility.
The chairman said planting jatropha also assists in preventing desert encroachment and can grow in both tropical and subtropical regions.
Also speaking, a Jatropha farmer in Katsina, Alhaji Mamman Danmusa, said that he had jatropha plantation covering over 150 hectares of land.
He stressed the importance of getting other sources of energy and the dangers associated with over dependence on oil revenue.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jatropha is a type of plant that people commonly use to demarcate their farmlands particularly in the Northern parts of the country.
Jatropha curcas is a specie of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that is native to the American tropics, most likely Mexico and Central America.
It is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, becoming naturalised in some areas.
The oil from Jatropha curcas is mainly converted into biodiesel for use in diesel engines.
The cake can be used for fish or animal feed (if detoxified), biomass feedstock to power electricity plants, or as biogas or high-quality organic fertiliser. (NAN)
ZI/IAA/AMY
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Abdullahi Yusuf