Production

The project`s goal is to plant 700 ha of oil seed plants. For the lifetime of the project, planting is scheduled as follows: 50 ha in 2007; 400 ha in 2008; and 250 ha in 2009. Crops that shall be planted for commercial purposes in 2008 are:

• Piñon (jatropha)
• Higuerilla (castor)
  

Investigation

• Piñón (jatropha)
  
• Higuerilla (Castor)
  
• Soy
• Colza
• Sunflower
• Rape (Canola)
  
• Sunflower
  
• Turnip fodder

Piñon (jatropha)

In 2006 and 2007, a total of approximately 50 ha of Jatropha were planted, using mainly two varieties:
• "Cabo Verde", originally from Nicaragua and Guatemala (OCTAGON).
• "India Salvadorena," from El Salvador (Diesel del Agro) (LINK www.dieseldelagro.com) , using seeds originally from India. In 2008 improved seeds were obtained from other sources, amongst which are:
• Spain, Cape Verde variety; produced by BIODEX.
• India, Provided by the Center for Jatropha Promotion and biodiesel ( www.jatrophabiodiesel.org)
• Philippines, produced by Biodex.
• Thailand, producer by Palm Plantations of Australia (With link http://www.jatrophacurcasplantations.com/
• Brazil, produced by Rural Group (With link http://www.ruralsementes.com.br/
• Indonesia, produced by PTK Indonesia created in January (link with www.indobiofuel.com 

The seeds shall be tested and evaluated in different pilot schemes. Later on, they shall be selected and crossed with local varieties.

One of the lessons learned in 2006 and 2007 is that farmers tend to neglect their Jatropha plantations during the first two years. Consequently, aggressive weed sprout and suck-up soil nutrients. The weed furthermore shades the Jatropha plant from the sun, thus delaying its growth. Most farmers end up being reluctant to invest in a crop that does not yield short term benefit. As noticed and confirmed by a study carried out by FACT; the neglect of young plantations is a widespread problem in other similar projects.

In order to avoid the loss of Jatropha plantations, the following changes shall be made in 2008:
• Establishing Jatropha plantations with a furrow/corridor of 5 m x1 (instead of 3x4 m). This allows the planting of a short-cycle crop in association with Jatropha (mixed cropping).
The Gota Verde project considers associating Jatropha with the following short-cycle crops: corn; beans; sorghum; soybean and sesame. These crops could eventually become part of the existing oil extraction chain and / or concentrates for livestock. Experiments have also been carried out with cucumbers, sweet potatoes and other vegetables.
• More emphasis is made on sowing Jatropha as live fences. It is estimated that by 2008 40% of Jatropha planted shall be in the form of live fences.

For more information on the cultivation of Jatropha, please consult the component on Agricultural Research

jatropha Nursery	jatropha Nursery	Jatropha plantations
Jatropha plantation	Local Jatrpoha

In 2008, experiment shall be carried out with seeds from Jatropha Criollo.

In 2007, experiments were carried out on the direct planting (does not involve the transplanting of seedlings) of Jatropha, with good results. The FHIA recommends direct planting under the following conditions: adequate soil moisture (rainy season); loose soils or highly prepared soils and the use of fresh seeds. In 2008 it is expected that 200 ha of Jatropha shall be planted directly, without the use of nurseries. This greatly reduces the cost of initial investment.

Given that the oldest Jatropha plantations in Yoro were sown in late 2006, there is no field data on the maximal productivity of the plant. Existing data on Jatropha productivity was as follows:

Most of the plantations in Yoro planted during the early period of the rainy season (July), began to produce after 5 to 6 months. During the first 12 months, yields varied between 40 kg and 300 kg per ha. Though irrigation was not applied, yields of 240 kg to 300 kg per ha were obtained in fields with enough ground moisture.

 For more information, see the following presentation (LINK with the presentation of FHIA, CoCo April 2008 pdf).

In the following projections which are based on data from India, there is a coincidence with output registered during the first 12 months of the plantations. With appropriate plant treatment, the following yields are expected:

Fuente: http://www.frienvis.nic.in/jatropha.htm

Castor

Although Castor is very common in the countryside of Honduras, so far there are no commercial plantations which benefit from the cultivation of this crop. In 2006 and 2007, the Gota Verde project conducted several trials with improved Castor seeds, obtaining encouraging results. In 2008, it is estimated that about 100 ha of Castor shall be planted.

A new initiative in 2008 shall be the planting of Castor as a shade tree in coffee plantations. Accordingly, an agreement has been signed with the Honduran Institute of Coffee IHCAFE.

www.cafedehonduras.org/ihcafe/

The project has planned to plant Castor as a shade tree on a surface area of 100 ha in 2008. This corresponds to an equivalent surface area of 23 hectares of pure Castor plantations.    (John: please expand).

Because Jatropha and Castor come from the same family, it is not recommend to mix both crops in the same farm. This should be carried out as a measure to avoid eventual problems with pests and diseases.

Plant	Fruit	Harvest

Castor oil will be used for two purposes:

• Production of biodiesel. Due to the high viscosity of plant oil and biodiesel from Castor, both products must be mixed with diesel from petroleum or biodiesel from Jatropha. Castor oil is not suitable to be used as a PPO.

• Sold to pharmaceutical, cosmetic and paint industries in Central American. The oil has a strong and growing demand in the global market.

There are prospects to develop a local based processing unit in which products such as biodegradable plastics and lubricants from castor oil shall be manufactured locally.

  Investigation

The following crops are been investigated:

Soy

The commercial cultivation of soybeans in Honduras is relatively insignificant. It is planted mostly as an input for the livestock industry, concentrated almost exclusively in the department Olancho. There are no records on industries that extract oil from soybeans in Honduras.

Since December 2007 the Gota Verde project has installed an oil press in Olancho to check the oil yield and quality of the cake as an input for animal feed. The positive results obtained, provided the stimulus to plant 3 ha of soybean on trial in the region of Yoro, for the months of January and February 2008.

 
Pilot soy plot (april 2008)

The FHIA developed and provided the project with a variety of resistant species cultivated in Honduras.

The soybean oil shall be produced for the  local market. It shall serve as a short term input for the production of biodiesel and PPO. In the medium term, BYSA expects to obtain the necessary permits and appropriate technology for the production and sale of soybean oil for human consumption. The project foresees the sale of soybean oil to local restaurants. BYSA shall buy used oil from these restaurants, for the production of biodiesel (win-win situation).

Pressed soybean cake shall serve as an input for the manufacturing of concentrates by BYSA. Yoro being a cattle rearing region; the concentrates shall target first and foremost the local market.

Key institutions involved in the "Agricultural production" sub-component are:

• BYSA (promoting the cultivation of oilseed producers)

• FUNDER (advocacy and technical assistance to producers)

• FACT (head of the agricultural component- consortium of Co-Recipients)

This component is co-funded by:

• IHCAFE (technical assistance)

www.cafedehonduras.org/ihcafe/

Germination tests	Varieties test
Fertilization tests
Associated crops	Non uniform germination hampers the harvesting
Soy experimental plot	Sunflower tests
Nabo forrajero tests

The following documents illustrate the main research activities carried out so far. Available in the documentation section of the website

A presentation made by FHIA in April 2008
Nursery Manual
Jatropha (Piñon) Manual

Studies carried out by students of ENA (National Agricultural School)

Experiments on germination
Experiments on biological variety
Cases with Fertilization
Trials involving mixed cropping
 Un-uniform ripening of the fruits hinders a harmonious harvest
Experiments on soybeans farms
Trials with sunflower in 2007   
Trials with turnip forage in 2007