Diversity and Socio-Economic Impact of Jatropha Curcas Plant to Livelihood Change

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DIVERSITY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF JATROPHA CURCAS PLANT TO LIVELIHOOD CHANGE

(CASE STUDY DABUB WALLO OROMIYA ZONE IN BATI WOREDA)

PREPARED BY Ameyu Fekadu Dinsa

Jun.2012

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACK GROUND

Ethiopia being a resource rich country, suffers food insecurity not being able to feed its population all over round. This is due to poor farming system, an insufficient use of natural resources and lack of environmental rehabilitation practice. While small scale agriculture will continue to be the main sources of household food income, the establishments of large scale commercial farms are to be encouraged, if the country has to come out of current food shortage.

The back ward agricultural practice together with change of climatic condition from place to place and erratic condition of rainfall and its uneven distribution, pest problems, use of back ward agricultural implements and way of plugging and absence of modern inputs has contributed to low crop production in the country, especially in areas of short rain fall in general and in Amhara region in particular.

Poor natural resources management low infrastructural development and low levels of tradition irrigation practices have affected the region adversely. These forced the people to face food shortage and are living at the level of absolute poverty. To over come this impact integrated commercial farming is the important one in the country especially in the areas of short rain fall using irrigation with available water sources like river, ground water, spring development, moisture harvesting etc.Based on low socio-Economic indicators the Ethiopia government has stream lined policies, which helps to alleviate such types of problems by establishing different parts of the region.

The proposed project will conduct in Amhara region, Oromia national zone Bati woreda at Mahammade, salmane, Garero.Bera, Uhrungu, Kurekura, Gure, Jaledeti, salaxe peasant association 9PA).Oromia national zone is of the nation’s zone in amhara region which located 420 km far away from addis Ababa and 92km away from the zone town Kemisse on the main road kombolcha- Djibouti, the total populations of the woreda estimated to be 125,300 Out of these 61,448 are male and 63,852 are female. The agro-ecology of the woreda is 81% sem-arid and 19% semi-humid and the annual rainfall range from 362 to 700 mm/year and the altitude range from 1001-2200m above sea level. The woreda covers total land area 124,696 ha which stratified in to agro-ecology and used for different crop and livestock production. From the total area of the land 11,169 ha for crop production 9,996ha and the landscape (topography) of the woreda 62,266ha is mountains ranges from 30-50% slope and 20,755ha has slope of above 50% the rest are relatively plateau.

The current forest coverage of the area is estimated to be 1.25% of the total area. To boost up the forest coverage of the area for long time different organization were interfere with different programs but the change is insignificant.

The main economic activities that the rural populations participate in livestock production, crop production and off-farm activities like jeweler, smoothing and trading. The major crop grow in the area sorghum, maize, millet, teff, chick pea, paper, tomato and estate major trees grow in the area are acacia specious, Eucalyptus and other indigenous trees and shrubs.

The PA where the project will conduct has 22,745.737 ha total area .Out of this area 5604.311ha for crop production 5405.7202 ha for grazing land 7140.9969ha for forest land and 4594.71 ha forinfrastructures. The current coverage of the PA is estimated to be 1.5%.The most devastating amongthese factors is drought which often leads to famine .the country’s economic growth has been sluggish over the last thirty years mainly due to recurrent drought, war economic policies, environmental degradation, excessive soil erosion, population pressure, poor infrastructure, etc

The average household income has shown some increment during the last three years. However, the per capital income computed in terms of the total income per adult equivalent is still below the minimum subsistence requirement. An average annual income of birr 761 was earned during the year 2006 and this figure is below the poverty line which is the minimum subsistence level US $ 1 per person per day, subject to purchasing power parity. The situation is worse with the poor households, whose average household income wealth groups. As such there is no statically significant income deference between the rich and medium households’ .the income level of the female headed households is significantly different from that of the male headed households.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The livelihood system in Bati woroda is heavily dependent on agriculture, both subsistence cropping and livestock production. Few households are engaged in off-farm work in addition to their regular farming activities. Due to various constrictions, low production and productivity characterizes the traditional practice of mixed farming, which results in law and unreliable income and chronic food insecurity .Even in ‘normal’ years, food insecurity in the area is manifested by a four to eight-month “hungry season” when most households are forced to reduce the quantity and quality of daily consumption.

The major causes of food insecurity in the area include:

-Dependency on rain-fed agriculture which is erratic and insufficient, resulting in low agricultural production.

-Environmental degradation meaning key local resource can not be used to full capacity and further deteriorate on an annual basis.

-poor social and infrastructure services

-Little or no off-farm income sources

-Years of continual loss of assets leaving households very vulnerable to recurring disaster.

-Gender imbalance which not only aggravates households and community food insecurity, but results in missed opportunities for full participation and benefit by all members of society.

In broader terms, the problem of food insecurity in bati is chronic and structural and solving this challenge in beyond the current capacity of target households. Even preliminary analysis of the woreda’s food security situation, in terms of over all food supply, access to food by individual households and the disaster management capability of institutions and people show that bati lags significantly behind even minimum requirements. Therefore, urgent action is required to provide sustainable opportunities for the population to effectively use their local resources and skills to tackle the underlying causes of food insecurity and return to a situation of social and economic stability.

Many small farmers are unable to produce sufficient food and income to improve their livelihoods. However, there is real possibility of generating additional income on the small farm by adopting suitable income generating activities. There are many simple, inexpensive and easy to adopt income generating activities which can be undertaken by the farmer by efficiently utilization available resources on the farm. Although many such resources are already present on a farm but in absence of necessary awareness and knowledge, the farmer is unable to exploit these resources for generating income. Some of these activities have already been evaluated and success fully demonstrated to the farmers on thehomesteads. By adopting such activities many farmers were able to generate substantial amount of cash income which helped them to improve their standard of living. Based on the resources available, suitable income generating activities can be selected and demonstrated to the farmers, many income generating activities are complementary to each other, have multipurpose value and can also be undertaken by the landless farmers. These activities also allow intensification and diversification in agriculture and result in more effecting utilization of local resources. Here Avery brief description of promising income generating activities is promising income generating activities is provided for information.

Jatropha curcas plant is being considered as a potential source of Bio-fuel. Many countries including Ethiopia have already started large scale planting of jatropha to produce Bio-fuel.Jatropha is a perennial drought resistant tropical plant that grows under marginal macroclimatic condition. It is also a multipurpose plant; in addition to producing oil, it is use full in soil conservation and its oil cake is rich in NPK and use as bio-fertilizer with the development of local bio-fuel industry, on increasing demand for seeds of Jatropha can be expected and both the land holders and landless farmers can produce Jatropha seeds and scale to the industry and earn income widespread poverty and food insecurity are prevalent in bati woreda .Lack of well-established and sustainable financial institutions is one of the root causes of acute poverty in the rural areas of the woreda .Lack of access to financial services makes the rural households to be less acceptable of new technologies leading to low agricultural productivity and food security.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

To general objective of this study is to analyze the diversity and socio-economic importance of jatropha curcas plant to livelihood change of the farmers are associated with different personal, socio-economical and institutional characteristic of farmer households in Debub wallo oromiya zone of Amhara region in Bati woreda.

The specific objectives are;

1) To over come the problem facing in food security at livelihood level

2) To reduce the environmental degradation challenges

3) To crate job opportunity to jobless young farmers.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Studies on the diversity and socio –economic impact of jatropha curcas plant to livelihood change are vital to enable bati woreda agricultural and rural development office, Investors, policy makers, policy implementers and non-governmental institutions help to design successful programs in the study area. Moreover, the study will provide information for those who like to conduct studies on jatropha.

1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITAION OF THE STUDY

This study will conduct in bati woreda of Oromiya zone national in Amhara region. As state in the objectives, the main aim of this study is to identify diversification and Scio-economic performance of smallholder farmers

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Accordingly, the study will conduct in 8 (eight) clusters of the woreda 12 randomly selected householders that use the jatropha plant. Primary data on the above main categories of variables will collect using structure questionnaire.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Definition and concepts of Jatropha curcas

The jatropha curcas /physic nut/ are a drought resistant large shrub or small tree, belonging to the genus Euphorbiaceous, productizing seeds. The species has its natural destruction area in the Northeastern part of South America. Thus far, we have not found any particular data on ecosystems in which it naturally occurs, we think that studying the ecosystem of its natural occurrence is important, as the areas to which the plant has been distributed by men .secondary centers of diversity are not necessarily alike, nor are the current cultivation areas.

Jatropha curcas is native in tropical America, but is now found abundantly in many tropical and sub-tropical regions through out Africa and Asia (Global indication of the most suitable climate conditions for the growth of jatropha (30 0N, 350S) and oil palm (Elaeis guineesnsis Jacq.(4 0N, 8 0S).

Due to the toxicity of its leaves, Jatropha curcas is not browsed and there fore traditionally used in protecting hedges a round arable land and housing .Also due to its toxicity ,Jatropha curcas oil is not edible and is traditionally used for manufacturing soap and medicinal applications. Its oil further is only suitable for industrial processing or as an energy sources.

Fig.2 The structural explanation of Jatropha use in community

Jatropha curcas could make an important contribution to the energy supply of emerging economies in general and remote rural area in particular .Both are threatened in their development by scarcity and therefore increasing energy costs and could benefit from locally production bioenergy.Further more, when properly managed, handled and processed, the

Production of bioenergy contributes to a decrease in green house gas accumulation in the atmosphere.

Jatropha curcas is a drought-resistant perennial, growing well in marginal/poor soil. It is easy to establish, grows relatively quickly and lives, producing seeds for 50 years.

Jatropha the wonder plant produces seeds with an oil content of 37%. The oil can be combusted as fuel without being refined. It burns with clear smoke-free flame, tested successfully as fuel for simple diesel engine. The by-products are press cake a good organic fertilizer, oil contains also insecticide.

It is found to be growing in many parts of the country, rugged in nature and can survive with minimum inputs and easy to propagate.

Medically it is used for diseases like cancer, piles, snakebite, paralysis, dropsy etc.

Jatropha grows wild in many areas of India and even thrives on infertile soil. A good crop can be obtained with little effort. Depending on soil quality and rainfall, oil can be extracted from the jatropha nuts after two to five years. The annual nut yield ranges from 0.5 to 12 tons. The kernels consist of oil to about 60 percent; this can be transformed into biodiesel fuel through esterification.

Family: Euphorbiaceae Synonyms: Curcas purgans Medic. Vernacular/common names: English- physic nut, purging nut; Hindi - Ratanjyot Jangli erandi; Malayalam - Katamanak; Tamil - Kattamanakku; Telugu - Pepalam; Kannada - Kadaharalu; Gujarathi - Jepal; Sanskrit - Kanana randa.

2.2 Distribution and habitat

It is still uncertain where the centre of origin is, but it is believed to be Mexico and Central America. It has been introduced to Africa and Asia and is now cultivated world-wide. This highly drought-resistant species is adapted to arid and semi-arid conditions. The current distribution shows that introduction has been most successful in the drier regions of the tropics with annual rainfall of 300-1000 mm. It occurs mainly at lower altitudes (0-500 m) in areas with average

Annual temperatures well above 20°C but can grow at higher altitudes and tolerate slight frost. It grows on well-drained soils with good aeration and is well adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient content.

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Fig. Botanical features of jatropha curcas

2.3 Botanical Features

It is a small tree or shrub with smooth gray bark, which exudes whitish colored, watery, latex when cut. Normally, it grows between three and five meters in

Height,but can attain a height of up to eight or ten meters under favorable conditions.

Leaves

It has large green to pale-green leaves, alternate to sub-opposite, three-to five-lobed with a spiral phyllotaxis.

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Flowers

The petiole length ranges between 6-23 mm. The inflorescence is formed in the leaf axil. A flower is formed terminally, individually, with female flowers usually slightly larger and occurs in the hot seasons. In conditions where continuous growth occurs, an unbalance of pistil late or staminate flower production results in a higher number of female flowers.

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Fruits

Fruits are produced in winter when the shrub is leafless, or it may produce several crops during the year if soil moisture is good and temperatures are sufficiently high. Each inflorescence yields a bunch of approximately 10 or more ovoid fruits. Three, bi-valved coccid are formed after the seeds mature and the fleshy exocarp dries.

Seeds

The seeds become mature when the capsule changes from green to yellow, after two to four months

2.4 Flowering and fruiting habit

The trees are deciduous, shedding the leaves in the dry season. Flowering occurs during the wet season and two flowering peaks are often seen. In permanently humid regions, flowering occurs throughout the year. The seeds mature about three months after flowering. Early growth is fast and with good rainfall conditions nursery plants may bear fruits after the first rainy season, direct sown plants after the second rainy season. The flowers are pollinated by insects especially honey bees.

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2.5 Ecological Requirements

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Jatropha curcas grows almost anywhere, even on gravelly, sandy and saline soils. It can thrive on the poorest stony soil. It can grow even in the crevices of rocks. The leaves shed during the winter months form mulch around the base of the plant. The organic matter from shed leaves enhance earth-worm activity in the soil around the root-zone of the plants, which improves the fertility of the soil.

Regarding climate, Jatropha curcas is found in the tropics and subtropics and likes heat, although it does well even in lower temperatures and can withstand a light frost. Its water requirement is extremely low and it can stand long periods of drought by shedding most of its leaves to reduce transpiration loss. Jatropha is also suitable for preventing soil erosion and shifting of sand dunes.

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2.6 Biophysical limits

Altitude: 0-500 m, Mean annual temperature: 20-28 0C, Mean annual rainfall: 300-1000 mm or more.

Soil type: Grows on well-drained soils with good aeration and is well adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient content. On heavy soils, root formation is reduced. Jatropha is a highly adaptable species, but its strength as a crop comes from its ability to grow on very poor and dry sites.