Jatropha

Jatropha

1) Buy seeds --> refer to this site for an idea of the financial figures associated with buying/growing/harvesting jatropha:

a. Cost per seed

b. Availability - where is market - cost to transport seeds

c. Amount of seeds required per hectare

2) Sow seeds

a. Labour demand - man hours

b. Skills/training required?

c. Equipment required?

3) Irrigate, maintain land

a. For how many seasons/years

b. Opportunity cost - labour, land

c. Cost of equipment/water/fertilizers

4) Harvest crop - primary product - seeds, secondary product (useful waste from primary product)

a. Labour demanded - man hours

b. Equipment required

c. Skills/training required?

5) Processing of seeds if necessary or alternatively export un processed seeds

a. Equipment costs

b. Labour time & costs (opportunity cost) per kg

c. Yield?

d. Skills/training required? Level of complexity?

6) Use of secondary product from jatropha

a. Processing required

b. Yield?

c. Potential products? E.g. soap, biomass for cooking

7) Transport

a. Transport of oil from seeds - cost per kg per mile

b. Transport of seeds - cost per kg per mile

c. Major transport routes in Malawi

d. What are major urban areas with demand for biodiesel

e. Average distances from rural areas to urban areas

8) Sale of seeds/oil/secondary product

a. Markets for seeds - rural, urban, international? Price per kg?

b. Markets for oil - rural, urban, international? Price per kg?

9) Conversion of oil into electricity

a. Cost of equipment required?

b. Average input of oil (volume)

c. Electricity yield per kg input

d. Price of electricity in Malawi