Jatropha Pepinyè
Project Overview
Jatropha Pepinyè is a nonprofit Haitian business that grows transplant seedlings of Jatropha curcas for renewable energy, rural economic development, and the re-vegetation of devastated landscapes. The nursery is located in Terrier Rouge in northeastern Haiti on the newly improved Route Nationale and is designed to develop and demonstrate the jatropha value chain.
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(ja-tro-fa) is the plant called the "Bio-diesel Tree"
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"Pepinyè" (pep-in-yeh) means "Nursery" in Haitian creole
The development of bio diesel is at an early stage in Haiti, but its tipping point has been reached and there is widespread support in the public, private, and international aid sectors. The basis of this emerging industry is a plant indigenous to Haiti, called Jatropha curcas. Its seeds produce high yields of oil, which can be used directly to run simple engines or transformed through a simple chemical process into bio-diesel, which can be blended with petroleum and used in all diesel engines without 
modification.
Jatropha can be a cash crop for thousands of unused hectares in Haiti, which are too poor to grow food, because it grows on marginal land that are not suitable for food production. With value-added products made from its oil, Jatropha can play an important role in integrated economic development and poverty reduction by providing income for families, new businesses for towns and regions, and renewable energy for Haiti.
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grows the highest quality Jatropha tree seedlings ready ship anywhere in Haiti to transplant into farmers' fields.
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gives Haiti's farmers the technical support they need to achieve productive yields. Haitian agronomists, who are backed up by the latest research, provide technical assistance.
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encourages integrated economic development at the local level by showing how to make marketable products from Jatropha, including pure plant oil for stoves and lamps, bio diesel for engines, and soap.
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works with farmers associations and cooperatives to explain Jatropha production in a balanced way, discussing requirements, returns and risks.
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works cooperatively throughout Haiti to develop green energy, re-vegetate devastated watersheds and conduct Jatropha research.
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helps poor farmers find the financial support they need to get started by connecting them to individual and corporate sponsors. If you are an individual or company who wants to help, consider sponsoring a farmer to grow Jatropha, reduce rural poverty, and give Haiti renewable energy.
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is managed and operated by Haitians and provides local employment and vocational training.
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is a nonprofit humanitarian business enterprise administered by Partner for People and Place, a US nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, and Esperance et Vie, a Haitian NGO.