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The Rise, Fall and Potential Resilience Benefits of Jatropha in Southern Africa

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  • Graham Von Maltitz

    (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), P.O. Box 359, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
    Sustainability Research Unit, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (George Campus), P/Bag X6531, George 6530, South Africa
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Alexandros Gasparatos

    (Integrated Research System in Sustainability Science (IR3S), University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
    Biodiversity Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Christo Fabricius

    (Sustainability Research Unit, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (George Campus), P/Bag X6531, George 6530, South Africa
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Jatropha is the latest in a list of “miracle crops” that have been promoted in southern Africa for their perceived development benefits. This was based on promises of high yields, low water requirement, ability to grow on marginal land and lack of competition with food. In less than 10 years, tens of thousands of hectares were acquired for jatropha plantations and thousands of hectares were planted, most of which are now unused or abandoned. Overestimations of jatropha yields coupled with underestimations of the management costs have probably been the prime contributors to the collapse of most jatropha projects in southern African. However, a few projects still survive and show signs of possible long-term sustainability. We consider two such projects, a smallholder-based project in Malawi and a large-scale plantation in Mozambique. Though their long-term sustainability is not proven, both projects may increase resilience by diversifying household income streams and contributing to national fuel security. By identifying what seems to be working in these projects we provide insights as to why other projects may have failed in southern Africa and whether there is still place for jatropha in the region. In essence can jatropha still enhance local/national resilience or are jatropha’s benefits just a myth?

Suggested Citation

  • Graham Von Maltitz & Alexandros Gasparatos & Christo Fabricius, 2014. "The Rise, Fall and Potential Resilience Benefits of Jatropha in Southern Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(6), pages 1-29, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:6:p:3615-3643:d:36778
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    5. Ahmed, Abubakari, 2021. "Biofuel feedstock plantations closure and land abandonment in Ghana: New directions for land studies in Sub-Saharan Africa," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    6. Sánchez, A.S. & Almeida, M.B. & Torres, E.A. & Kalid, R.A. & Cohim, E. & Gasparatos, A., 2018. "Alternative biodiesel feedstock systems in the Semi-arid region of Brazil: Implications for ecosystem services," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2744-2758.
    7. Graham von Maltitz & Marna van der Merwe, 2017. "Land and agronomic potential for biofuel production in Southern Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series 085, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. Anika Trebbin, 2021. "Land Grabbing and Jatropha in India: An Analysis of ‘Hyped’ Discourse on the Subject," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-21, October.
    9. Yuh-Jin Bae, 2021. "Analyzing the Changes of the Meaning of Customary Land in the Context of Land Grabbing in Malawi," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-21, August.
    10. Abubakari Ahmed & Eric Dompreh & Alexandros Gasparatos, 2019. "Human wellbeing outcomes of involvement in industrial crop production: Evidence from sugarcane, oil palm and jatropha sites in Ghana," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-33, April.
    11. Moseki, Ofentse & Murray-Hudson, Michael & Kashe, Keotshephile, 2019. "Crop water and irrigation requirements of Jatropha curcas L. in semi-arid conditions of Botswana: applying the CROPWAT model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    12. Yuh Jin Bae, 2023. "Analyzing the Connection between Customary Land Rights and Land Grabbing: A Case Study of Zambia," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, January.
    13. Jha, Priyanka & Schmidt, Stefan, 2021. "State of biofuel development in sub-Saharan Africa: How far sustainable?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    14. Graham von Maltitz, 2017. "Options for suitable biofuel farming: Experience from Southern Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-100, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    15. Gasparatos, A. & von Maltitz, G.P. & Johnson, F.X. & Lee, L. & Mathai, M. & Puppim de Oliveira, J.A. & Willis, K.J., 2015. "Biofuels in sub-Sahara Africa: Drivers, impacts and priority policy areas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 879-901.
    16. Michael von Maltitz & Marna van der Merwe, 2017. "Land and agronomic potential for biofuel production in Southern Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-85, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    17. Chester Kalinda & Ziyaye Moses & Chama Lackson & Lwali A. Chisala & Zulu Donald & Phiri Darius & Chisha-Kasumu Exildah, 2015. "Economic Impact and Challenges of Jatropha curcas L. Projects in North-Western Province, Zambia: A Case of Solwezi District," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-17, July.
    18. Richmond Antwi-Bediako & Kei Otsuki & Annelies Zoomers & Aklilu Amsalu, 2019. "Global Investment Failures and Transformations: A Review of Hyped Jatropha Spaces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-23, June.
    19. Ahmed, Abubakari & Campion, Benjamin Betey & Gasparatos, Alexandros, 2017. "Biofuel development in Ghana: policies of expansion and drivers of failure in the jatropha sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 133-149.
    20. Graham von Maltitz, 2017. "Options for suitable biofuel farming: Experience from Southern Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series 100, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    21. Gasparatos, Alexandros & Doll, Christopher N.H. & Esteban, Miguel & Ahmed, Abubakari & Olang, Tabitha A., 2017. "Renewable energy and biodiversity: Implications for transitioning to a Green Economy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 161-184.
    22. Kunda-Wamuwi, Chibuye F. & Babalola, Folaranmi D. & Chirwa, Paxie W., 2017. "Investigating factors responsible for farmers' abandonment of Jatropha curcas L. as bioenergy crop under smallholder out-grower schemes in Chibombo District, Zambia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 62-68.

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