Activists against Tanzania's Jatropha project

Environmental activists in Tanzania’s Coast Region have raised concern
over the planned large-scale cultivation of Jatropha for biofuel
production, saying it would lead to environmental degradation.

The environmentalists are quoted telling the Press Service of Tanzania
that the crop would not boost the economy of the residents as the
price of the plant would be less than 150/- per kilo, saying that was
less than what cashew nuts fetched, which is between 400/- and 600/-
per kilogram.

Sources say, there were investors seeking 18,000 hectares in the
coastal districts for the cultivation of the new cash crop.

About 9,000 hectares have already been set aside for a foreign
investor for the purpose which would affect 11 villages in the district.

Former owners of the earmarked land had reportedly been offered
compensation amounting to 800m/- by the investor. The villages whose
land has been set aside for jatropha plantations are Kurui, Mtakayo,
Kidugalo and Mzenga `A`.

Others are Marumbo, Mhaga, Chakenge, Mitengwe, Palaka, Mtamba and Vilabwa.

Environmentalists claim the project would affect other sustainable
development projects including livestock keeping, fisheries,
beekeeping, factories, and natural forest conservation.

Furthermore, there would be no enough land for farming of both cash
and food crops for schools, hospitals and colleges in the district.

”I do not like the Jatropha circus because, as far as I know, it will
not produce as much as 20,000 tonnes of diesel from an 18,000 hectare
farm, instead it would only destroy the environment. Such investors
should not be encouraged in the district”, one of the
environmentalists said.

However, an economist said large-scale farming was more profitable
than small-scale cultivation as it would produce more crops.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 31 May 2008 )

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