Jatropha plantations to increase in West Africa

Jatropha developer Joil has signed a memorandum of understanding to develop plantations in West Africa with Agritech Faso.

The pair will explore the development of 250,000 hectares of jatropha plantations intercropped with food crops using Joil’s high-yielding varieties. Field trials will also be carried out using Joil’s growing materials at Agritech’s plantations in Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin.

‘We and our affiliates have currently planted 4,000 hectares of jatropha curcas intercropped with food crops, with access to more than 100,000 hectares’ says Agritech CEO William Kwende. ‘Having seen the data from Joil’s jatropha trials in India, which achieved more than two tonnes in the first year, we plan to use their varieties and methods on our plantations,’ says Agritech CEO William Kwende.

A refinery is also mooted to be part of the agreement pending any successful results from the trial.