Jatropha curcas is a plant of LatinAmerican origin, now widespread through arid, and semiaridtropical regions of the world. It is a drought-resistantperennial, that grows on marginal soils, and, as a closerelative to the castor plant, its oil has the same medicalproperties. In Mali, it is well-known and has long beenrecognized as a plant of many uses: Jatropha hedges not onlyprotect gardens from hungry livestock, but reduces damage,and erosion from wind, and water. As of the 1930s, the oilpotential as a fuel source was also recognized, currentlyused to substitute for the "gazoil" mixture usedin the Indian type diesel engines, that drive grain mills,and water pumps in rural areas of Mali, while itshigh-quality oil extracted by engine-driven expellers, or bythe sediment of the oil purification process, may be usedfor larger-scale soap making in rural areas, providing localwomen the chance to gain additional income, thusstrengthening their economic position. The note examines allthese possibilities, as well as the potential further usesof Jatropha oil as a renewable energy source, beingcurrently researched. To summarize, Jatropha ischaracterized by the many positive ecological, energetic,and economic aspects which are attached with its commercialexploitation, which may well improve the environment, andfood production.
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