Spotlight Renewable Energy Fueling prosperity in Honduras Honduras is amongst the poorest of Latin America’s countries, with more than half of the population living under the poverty line. In the country’s rural south, the situation is at its worst, with the region’s subsistence farmers struggling against poor soils and a challenging climate to eke out an existence growing traditional crops like corn, beans and sorghum. Here, where some 75% of people live in poverty, SNV and partners have been piloting the domestication of a new native crop that has the potential to increase incomes, build employment, and enable a sustainable future for local farmers – jatropha. Oil extracted from Jatropha curcas seeds is a high quality fossil fuel substitute, and the species is well adapted to severe weather conditions and soil erosion – making it an ideal alternative crop for southern Honduran farmers. Seeing the potential of jatropha for poverty reduction, SNV and partners have been undertaking a pilot project focusing on the development of expertise for the sustainable cultivation of this plant, along with the necessary technological innovation and a marketing system that includes small producers in the value chains of companies specialised in biofuel production. With the support of Cordaid and the Embassy of Denmark (ERD), the project has successfully brought together partners including the Southern Regional Agricultural Producers Cooperative (CARPROSUL) – representing over 1,000 local farmers, biofuel producer Agro Energy of Honduras (AGROENHSA), carbon market specialists Agro Industry Pinion 14 CONNECT #1 JULY 2012 “The introduction of jatropha is a blessing. Many farmers have several hectares of land but are very poor as they cannot grow traditional crops. With jatropha they can make more efficient use of their lands.” Don Geovanny Zepeda, President CARPROSUL can be equitably integrated into the value chains of biofuel producers. (AGROIPSA), the City of El Triunfo and Honduras’ Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (SERNA) to support the development of this new industry in the country’s south. Currently in its second year, the project has already succeeded in establishing 400 hectares of Jatropha curcas, along with strengthening the capacity of 368 producers and designing and building the specialised equipment needed for drying and pulping the jatropha fruit. Most importantly however, it has proved that jatropha is a viable alternative crop for degraded land in poor areas of Honduras and that small producers By the time the crop reaches full productive maturity (five years from establishment), the project expects to have created 1,000 jobs, increased producer incomes by 30%, and restored the productive capacity of 400 hectares of degraded land. But not content to stop at these gains, the project partners are also seeking to facilitate access to the voluntary carbon market for Honduran jatropha producers – paving the way for estimated further incomes of €250,000 to 300,000 from the sale of carbon credits. With a jatropha production cycle of 45 years, this is one project that offers lasting change – as well as proof that even in the toughest conditions, prosperity can bloom. Pagina 13
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