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Economic Impact and Challenges of Jatropha curcas L. Projects in North-Western Province, Zambia: A Case of Solwezi District

Author

Listed:
  • Chester Kalinda

    (School of Natural Resources, The Copperbelt University, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe 10101, Zambia)

  • Ziyaye Moses

    (Kyawama Secondary School, P.O. Box 110024, Solwezi 10101, Zambia)

  • Chama Lackson

    (School of Natural Resources, The Copperbelt University, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe 10101, Zambia)

  • Lwali A. Chisala

    (School of Natural Resources, The Copperbelt University, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe 10101, Zambia)

  • Zulu Donald

    (School of Natural Resources, The Copperbelt University, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe 10101, Zambia)

  • Phiri Darius

    (School of Natural Resources, The Copperbelt University, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe 10101, Zambia)

  • Chisha-Kasumu Exildah

    (School of Natural Resources, The Copperbelt University, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe 10101, Zambia)

Abstract

Forest products, wood and non-wood, remain vital among smallholder households in Zambia with charcoal being the most sought after product. This has led to increased exploitation of forest trees to meet the needs for fuel wood, among others. However, Jatropha curcas plant has been identified as a potential fuel source. In the early 2000s, profit-making organizations encouraged smallholder households to grow Jatropha for use as an alternative fuel source. This paper reports on a study conducted in Solwezi between 2011 and 2014 to evaluate the impact of Jatropha cultivation for biofuel production. A sample of 100 small-scale farmers involved in Jatropha cultivation and key informants were interviewed to evaluate the impact of growing Jatropha at the small-scale level. Results show that farmers lost out on time; income from sale of edible non-wood forest products; and experienced reduction in maize ( Zea mays ) and bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) production, worsening household economic conditions. Farmers attributed this loss to unclear policy alignment on biofuel production by government. We therefore recommend that project implementation should involve interactions of all legislative bodies and any other concerned stakeholders. There is also a need to promote the value chain, from production to marketing, which focuses on minimizing detrimental effects on the livelihood of small-scale farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:8:p:9907-9923:d:53128
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marcin Pawel Jarzebski & Abubakari Ahmed & Yaw Agyeman Boafo & Boubacar Siddighi Balde & Linda Chinangwa & Osamu Saito & Graham Maltitz & Alexandros Gasparatos, 2020. "Food security impacts of industrial crop production in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the impact mechanisms," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(1), pages 105-135, February.
    2. Hunsberger, Carol & German, Laura & Goetz, Ariane, 2017. "“Unbundling” the biofuel promise: Querying the ability of liquid biofuels to deliver on socio-economic policy expectations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 791-805.
    3. Petr Procházka & Luboš Smutka & Vladimír Hönig, 2019. "Using Biofuels for Highly Renewable Electricity Systems: A Case Study of the Jatropha curcas," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Mensah, Edouard R. & Shinde, Nilesh & Kakpo, Ange T. & Djenontin, Ida N.S., 2024. "The human well-being outcomes of tree plantations in sub-Saharan Africa: A reassessment of evidence using longitudinal subnational-year data," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    5. Goetz, Ariane & German, Laura & Hunsberger, Carol & Schmidt, Oscar, 2017. "Do no harm? Risk perceptions in national bioenergy policies and actual mitigation performance," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 776-790.
    6. Atuoye, Kilian Nasung & Luginaah, Isaac & Hambati, Herbert & Campbell, Gwyn, 2021. "Who are the losers? Gendered-migration, climate change, and the impact of large scale land acquisitions on food security in coastal Tanzania," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    7. Guadalupe Pérez & Jorge M. Islas-Samperio, 2021. "Sustainability Evaluation of Non-Toxic Jatropha curcas in Rural Marginal Soil for Obtaining Biodiesel Using Life-Cycle Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-21, May.

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