Local development
The initial income raised by the farmers’ union will be used to pay off the incurred debts and investments. It is anticipated that the local community will soon be benefiting from the project; it will have paid for itself within 5 years.

The climate nut is harvested from December to March which is traditionally a period when there is little or no agricultural activity. The farmers, especially the women, who harvest the nuts, therefore enjoy an extra source of income in a time of year when money is tight.

Each biodiesel factory involves around 4,000 farmers, sets up 50 nurseries and educates about 50 people to become plantation managers and advisors. A further 5 spokesmen advise the farmers and collect the harvested nuts and provides production work for about 10 people.

An old Jatropha hedge

Besides experts from the Royal Tropical Institute, the Netherlands Development Organisation is involved locally to provide support and advice in the initiation and management of the cooperatives.

In 2008 the project will be expanded. At first an additional four cooperatives per year will be set up, leading to 20 new cooperatives in 2014. As such, 80,000 families will be involved and about 120 people will have employment.

Another partner organisation is the IER (Institute d’Economie Rurale). They carry out technical and economic research directed towards the expansion of the project.

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