Planting of hedges in urban areas

One community group of five members representing both men and women has started up planting Jatropha curcas in the urban areas of Chinotimba, Victoria Falls. The group use both seedlings and cuttings of Jatropha. The seedling are raised in own nurseries and the cuttings are collected from existing fencing material in the neighbourhood. Jatropha is mainly planted on marginalized soil i.e. unused public areas and schools areas for fencing. The group involves the children and the teachers from local schools in the planting project and use the project as a teaching lesson for the children to raise awareness of the environment and to take ownership of the trees. The management and care of the plants is organized between the user group and administration of the School.

Distribution of seeds to rural areas

Another Jatropha project involves the distribution of Jatropha seed to ten primary schools in rural areas in Hwange North. Every School is giving 2000 seeds of Jatropha and also some containers for planting the seeds. The intension is to commit the children and the schools to start making nurseries and afterwards either sell or plant the seedlings in the areas close to the school. 

The idea is that Environment Africa in future will buy the seedling from the schools for about 200 z$ each and sell them as Tree Tickets. Tree Tickets is a concept where foundations or individuals can donate trees to a local rural area selected by the donor. Environment Africa will facilitate the planting and management of the trees.

The school can also chose to plant the seedlings later harvest the seed and then sell them to Environment Africa for oil extraction. It’s the plan to start oil extraction at Chidobe Information and Research centre for demonstration and commercial production. At the moment Hlanganani Oil Pressing and Peanut Butter Making group has been donated a Bielenberg ram presser by DED. 

At the moment 12000 Jatropha seeds have been distributed in Hwange North.

An agreement with hotels etc regards collection of used water bottles. The bottles are used for water dripping system in the nurseries and as planting containers.

Planting Jatropha in plantation

In the rural area 1 hectare planted with Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) mixed with other oil species as Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) are going to be initiated as research plot for further investigation. The plantation is going to be based on seedlings only.