The project operates in two Malian districts (Koutiala and Tominian). The average rainfall in this area is between 700 and 900mm per year.The fields have been cultivated continuously for the last 30 years, so fallowing is rare. However, the areas of Koutilia and Tominian are areas the most affected by the cotton crisis, thus local families are ready to seize any opportunity which guarantees them a sustainable income.
Jatropha planted in hedges does not require lots of maintenance and does not compete with grain production. It nonetheless provides an excellent opportunity to provide additional farm income by producing seeds that serve as biodiesel feedstocks and other useful products. At a technical level, the pressing and the use of jatropha-oil are relatively simple. Planting jatropha in hedges in the agrarian system of the old cotton belt will reduce the vulnerability of small farms with regards to the cotton crisis and climate change.
Furthermore, planting Jatropha can also be seen as promotion of renewable energy by providing a high quality biodiesel substitute for diesel fuel that is renewable, affordable and locally produced, particulary with regard to the production and use of jatropha for rural electrification schemes mills and local grain mills (multipurpose).
Key project components:
1) Jatropha planting and increase of carbon sinks
This component aims at promoting community-level sylviculture, based on jathropha plantation in hedges in the degraded farmlands.
The two following procedures are used for the installation of the plantings:
- direct seed sowing on favorable land ;
- production of seedlings in nurseries (later transplantation to the fields)
There are different planting patterns:
- hedges around the plots
- hedges to support anti-erosion measures
- hedges around secondary roads etc.
The project objective is the planting of 1,000,000 jatropha-trees (equivalent to 1,000 ha) in fifty villages. This biomass sequesters an approximate amount of 59,000 tCO2 in twenty years that can be certified as carbon credits.
Activities:
- Identification of producers and creation of a cooperative
- Identification of seed and installation of nurseries
- Soil Preparation
- Planting and monitoring
2) Production and use of oil as biofuel
This component, following the first one, aims at seed harvesting, extraction and filtering of jatropha oil to run the engines. This “bioenergy” component is the main component of the project. The biodiesel will mainly substitute imported fossil fuel currently used in diesel engines. There will be no export of the generated oil, it will be used locally. The screening will be traditional without further chemical processing.
The platform is based on an electrification facility on behalf of the village. A management committee will be established. The following activities and services will be established: grain milling, threshing, battery charging, welding etc..
The rural electrification units are installed by an agency and managed by private corporations. Services offered to subscribers (against payment): public lighting, private lighting, welding stations, charging batteries, etc. The substitution of fossil fuel by biofuel will also be translated into carbon credits.
Activities:
- Harvesting and sale of seed
- Oil extraction
- Substitution of diesel
Inter-Cooperation envisages dividing the project into two parts: The planting of trees and the substitution of diesel by jatropha oil in the multifunctional platforms.
Beneficiaries:
The farmers are organized in agricultural associations. Therefore, they are experienced in terms of working in associations and cooperations. All Jatropha producers are able to create a specific association to become an accepted interlocutor.These associations or cooperatives are the true bearers of the project through the AOPP (Association of peasant organizations).