The National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (NOCZIM) is set to grow 25,000 jatropha plant seedlings to distribute to farmers within the next month for the 2006-2007 season, The Sunday News reported.

In a statement, the company said it has been mandated by the government to spearhead the bio-diesel project. It is the intention of NOCZIM to embark on a seedling-based jatropha out- grower scheme where the company enters into direct relationships with willing farmers including schools and institutions who have land, infrastructure and capacity to raise seedling.

Farmers who are interested in participating in the scheme have been urged to apply. Progress towards exploring sustainable solutions to the energy shortfall has been slowed down by a lack of follow-up programmes in the growing of the jatropha tree.

About a year after the launch, progress towards the commercial production of bio-diesel has been checked by operational challenges and policy deficiencies.

Feasibility studies conducted at the University of Zimbabwe have shown that bio-diesel is a sustainable solution to the country's energy problems.

In trying to meet the volumes of jatropha seed required for the large-scale production of bio-diesel, NOCZIM introduced an out- grower scheme in which farmers were invited to supply land while the national oil company would make jatropha seed available.

The buying price of jatropha seed was also benchmarked against international diesel prices to incentivise farmers to grow the jatropha. However, the response from key institutions has not been positive.

Source: Xinhua