Jatropha Markets
Straight vegetable oil (SVO) is an indirect substitute for bio-diesel, petro-diesel and a direct substitute for fuel oil. Jatropha SVO is the least capital intensive Jatropha fuel supply chain that enables small-scale farmers and producer cooperatives to maximize value added to the end product in the local economy. Jatropha SVO can be consumed in any diesel engines that have been converted to run on SVO fuel or in many low-speed diesel and fuel oil engines without any conversion. Examples of Jatropha SVO ready engines are most fuel oil engines and low-speed, gravity fed Lister type engines running under 1200 RPM. These types of engines have strong competitive advantages in the production of local electricity, grinding mills, seed crushing operations, water pumps, irrigation, and small industry due to lower fuel costs associated with SVO fuel relative to bio-diesel, petro-diesel and fuel oil.
Bio-diesel is a direct substitute for petro-diesel fuel that is equally efficient and has the potential to burn cleaner than petro-diesel if quality standards are met. Bio-diesel can be used purely in diesel engines as B100 or blended with diesel (at any percentage) creating flexible and low-switching cost consumption. The majority of Haitian liquid fuel consumption is in the form of petro-diesel and fuel oil, both of which use compression ignition engines and are ideal for use of Jatropha bio-diesel. In addition to substituting petro-diesel, Jatropha bio-diesel is a less-toxic substitute for kerosene fuel used in Lamps and stoves. Bio-diesel applications in lamps and stoves will have the largest impact on rural villages for light and cooking.
Organic Fertilizer is easily produced from the left-over Jatropha fruit (after the seeds have been removed) and the seedcake by-product from JPC’s if not used for other markets. Organic fertilizer produced from Jatropha is very high in nitrogen and can be used on various crops to enrich the soil.
Soap is a valuable by-product of Jatropha bio-fuels due to the high quantity of glycerin present in the oil. Soap can economically be produced at the village level adding another strong source of revenue to Jatropha agriculture that simultaneously combat hygiene in isolated rural areas.
Charcoal briquettes are an ideal by-product from Jatropha fruit shells and hulls. Charcoal is the primary fuel used for cooking in Haiti and is largely responsible for the rapid rates of deforestation in recent decades as a result of hardwood being the primary input for charcoal production. Jatropha seed shells are in fact a very similar material too wood ad burn much the same if pressed into briquettes. Charcoal briquettes require none or very little modification to current charcoal stoves in Haiti.
Honey produced from Jatropha flowers is a high-value Jatropha product that adds value at the local village level. Jatropha is pollinated by insects, primarily honey bees, creating ideal conditions for honey bee propagation in conjunction with Jatropha farming. By producing honey with Jatropha pollen, bees enhance Jatropha fruit production which equates into higher oil yields per tree and hectare while simultaneously producing a nutritious food product that is demanded in Haiti’s economy.