Biofuels for a Greener Economy? Insights from Jatropha Production in Northeastern Ethiopia

Sustainability

Brigitte Portner²  Albrecht Ehrensperger²  Zufan Nezir¹  Thomas Breu² 

[1] Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; E-Mail:;Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 10, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; E-Mails:

关键词: green economy;    biofuels;    Jatropha;    Ethiopia;    smallholders;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su6096188

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Many observers view Jatropha as a miracle plant that grows in harsh environments, halts land degradation and provides seeds for fuel production. This makes it particularly attractive for use in Ethiopia, where poverty levels are high and the degradation of agricultural land is widespread. In this article, we investigate the potentials and limitations of a government-initiated Jatropha project for smallholders in northeastern Ethiopia from a green economy perspective. Data are based on a 2009 household survey and interviews with key informants, as well as on a 2012 follow-up round of interviews with key informants. We conclude that the project has not contributed to a greener economy so far, but has the potential to do so in the future. To maximize Jatropha’s potential, interventions must focus mainly on smallholders and pay more attention to the entire biofuel value chain.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.