Benefits and Responsible growing

Through responsible growing, the following benefits are realised:

• National Benefits: For every litre of Jatropha Oil produced, BERL saves the Malawian Government 80 US cents in foreign currency;
• Local Development: Adding value to an agricultural product through processing. This new industry will also provide increased employment;
• Renewable Energy: Reducing reliance on fossil fuel through the production of bio fuel;
• Environmental Benefits: contributing to green house gas emission reductions through the sequestration of carbon in Jatropha. Employing and promoting good agricultural practices through our extension agents;
• Social Benefits: BERL smallholder farmers receive an additional income by selling their Jatropha harvest (farm gate income of 67 US cents per kilogram). Harvesting occurs throughout the year providing the farmer with an income during the lean season;
• Ensuring no Food vs Fuel conflict: BERL farmers only plant Jatropha as boundaries around their existing crop so as to ensure that essential food crops are not replaced. The additional cash crop does not demand a lot of labour during times when other crops do.