Comments on: Ghana’s Jatropha conundrum – more questions than answers http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/05/30/ghana%e2%80%99s-jatropha-conundrum-%e2%80%93-more-questions-than-answers/ The first place for your business news Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:40:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dr. Ashok K Raina http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/05/30/ghana%e2%80%99s-jatropha-conundrum-%e2%80%93-more-questions-than-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-6682 Dr. Ashok K Raina Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:20:27 +0000 http://ghanabusinessnews.com/?p=12796#comment-6682 My concern really more technical. With experience of growing jatropha over two decades, having not seen but raised thousand of acres. And I dear speak that any serious player in commercial will seriously listen. Have you seen plantation block getting effected by insect pest or Mosaic Virus spreading taking proportions. New players may experience such things after investing millions. You are fortunate that some one is concerned and shares his technical experience. Biofuel planting material and production technology is key to the economic feasibility, and that is the marh, i believe more. My concern really more technical. With experience of growing jatropha over two decades, having not seen but raised thousand of acres. And I dear speak that any serious player in commercial will seriously listen.

Have you seen plantation block getting effected by insect pest or Mosaic Virus spreading taking proportions.

New players may experience such things after investing millions.

You are fortunate that some one is concerned and shares his technical experience.

Biofuel planting material and production technology is key to the economic feasibility, and that is the marh, i believe more.

]]> By: Anthony http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/05/30/ghana%e2%80%99s-jatropha-conundrum-%e2%80%93-more-questions-than-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-6053 Anthony Sun, 31 May 2009 16:07:11 +0000 http://ghanabusinessnews.com/?p=12796#comment-6053 Ghana is not the center of jatropha but the rather where more developing companies make big promises. There are no major farms beyond 2000ha in Ghana unlike Mozambique ,Malawi,Tanzania,Kenya,Ethopia where there are entities with over 5000ha planted and more than one company really doing anything. Gold Star does not have more than 1000ha and the leading firm Biofuel Africa just under 2000ha in two places. Ghana is not the center please...has the potential to be though but for now just talk talk ..so so talk talk Ghana is not the center of jatropha but the rather where more developing companies make big promises. There are no major farms beyond 2000ha in Ghana unlike Mozambique ,Malawi,Tanzania,Kenya,Ethopia where there are entities with over 5000ha planted and more than one company really doing anything. Gold Star does not have more than 1000ha and the leading firm Biofuel Africa just under 2000ha in two places. Ghana is not the center please…has the potential to be though but for now just talk talk ..so so talk talk

]]> By: Anthony http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/05/30/ghana%e2%80%99s-jatropha-conundrum-%e2%80%93-more-questions-than-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-6050 Anthony Sun, 31 May 2009 15:56:05 +0000 http://ghanabusinessnews.com/?p=12796#comment-6050 does that mean Soy ,palm oil,rape,canola are also not feasible. You need to do the math. what do you think the current 5% blending expected is being met. Dont need to tie it to fossil fuel prices when its mandated. That means there will be a premium paid beyond economic return. Just the CDM alone from using the seed cake for biogas can be enough justification. does that mean Soy ,palm oil,rape,canola are also not feasible. You need to do the math.
what do you think the current 5% blending expected is being met. Dont need to tie it to fossil fuel prices when its mandated. That means there will be a premium paid beyond economic return. Just the CDM alone from using the seed cake for biogas can be enough justification.

]]> By: Rian Malan http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/05/30/ghana%e2%80%99s-jatropha-conundrum-%e2%80%93-more-questions-than-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-6047 Rian Malan Sun, 31 May 2009 15:03:26 +0000 http://ghanabusinessnews.com/?p=12796#comment-6047 I have visited India investigated Jatropha. At a stage when oil prices hit the ceiling jatropha looked a very feasible solution. I really think there are too many unanswered questions. Let the pioneers go ahead and take the arrows. Think I'll wait a bit. Regards Rian I have visited India investigated Jatropha. At a stage when oil prices hit the ceiling jatropha looked a very feasible solution.

I really think there are too many unanswered questions. Let the pioneers go ahead and take the arrows. Think I’ll wait a bit.

Regards

Rian

]]> By: Anthony http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/05/30/ghana%e2%80%99s-jatropha-conundrum-%e2%80%93-more-questions-than-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-6044 Anthony Sun, 31 May 2009 14:01:38 +0000 http://ghanabusinessnews.com/?p=12796#comment-6044 Dr....have you visited any jatropha plantation with over 1000 ha planted and managed well. If you have am sure you will know better. Jatropha even at its worse produces more oil than Soy Bean okay. so do the math...if soy can be used to and cultivated every year unlike jatropha where lies your. if you want to find out more about jatropha send an email to me @ ghanaproject@gmail.com Dr….have you visited any jatropha plantation with over 1000 ha planted and managed well. If you have am sure you will know better. Jatropha even at its worse produces more oil than Soy Bean okay. so do the math…if soy can be used to and cultivated every year unlike jatropha where lies your. if you want to find out more about jatropha send an email to me @ ghanaproject@gmail.com

]]> By: Dr. Ashok K Raina http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/05/30/ghana%e2%80%99s-jatropha-conundrum-%e2%80%93-more-questions-than-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-6015 Dr. Ashok K Raina Sun, 31 May 2009 04:14:04 +0000 http://ghanabusinessnews.com/?p=12796#comment-6015 I have been engaged personally in Jatropha Research and Plantation Projects since 1983. I am happy of late people connected to Jatropha world have initiated some objective thinking. I am afraid, there have been many misconceived and little too opportunistic adventures which may have benefited some in the short run but definitely have done very little for advancement of Jatropha programs. Lately the R&D focus has very rightly started on the Genetic improvement of Jatropha for seed yield and oil out put. However, much remains to be done in Jatropha husbandry and Plant protection issues, very serious ones, like control of diseases due to various fungi, bacteria and mycoplasma, or damage due to insect pests. Viral infestation of Plantations with narrow Genetic base can take epidemic proportions. Thus I would conclude saying that every concerned governments ought to issues strong advisories for the benefit of farming communities to avoid any such investments of their valuable land and financial resources on piece meal plantation project that are not supported by authentic R & D and financial guarantees against any likely economic or ecological disasters. It is alright for private companies to venture into such projects if done on their own captive plantation, without public funding. Ashok I have been engaged personally in Jatropha Research and Plantation Projects since 1983.

I am happy of late people connected to Jatropha world have initiated some objective thinking. I am afraid, there have been many misconceived and little too opportunistic adventures which may have benefited some in the short run but definitely have done very little for advancement of Jatropha programs.

Lately the R&D focus has very rightly started on the Genetic improvement of Jatropha for seed yield and oil out put. However, much remains to be done in Jatropha husbandry and Plant protection issues, very serious ones, like control of diseases due to various fungi, bacteria and mycoplasma, or damage due to insect pests. Viral infestation of Plantations with narrow Genetic base can take epidemic proportions.

Thus I would conclude saying that every concerned governments ought to issues strong advisories for the benefit of farming communities to avoid any such investments of their valuable land and financial resources on piece meal plantation project that are not supported by authentic R & D and financial guarantees against any likely economic or ecological disasters. It is alright for private companies to venture into such projects if done on their own captive plantation, without public funding.

Ashok

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