Indonesia Pilots Jatropha Producing Villages for Biofuel

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says the government will ensure that farmers’ production of jatropha, a rich source for biofuel production, will be absorbed by industries. “Jatropha seed and oil yield production will be well marketed,” said President Yudhoyono during his visit to a village in Tanjung Harjo, district of Ngaringan, regency of Grobogan, Central Java, which has been earmarked to produce jatropha on a self-sustaining basis.

The village is a pilot project for jatropha cultivation which has an organized farmer association and a factory capable of processing 3 million tons of jatropha seeds per day. Villages like that of Tanjung Harjo will have a system which will enable them to go into jatropha production through the provision of capital support, and the development of infrastructure, and marketing avenues, among others.

The use of jatropha, according to President Yudhoyo, is in line with Indonesia’s strategic plan to develop biofuels as alternative to conventional fuel sources.

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