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Community Based Jatropha Biodiesel for Rural Economic Growth in Nepal
The project proposal entitled "Community Based Jatropha Biodiesel for Rural Economic Growth in Nepal" submitted by the Clean Energy/Environment unit of Nepal Office has been selected as one of the four 2008 Internal Grants awardees under the Innovation Investment Program of Winrock International.
Biodiesel, an emerging renewable source of energy, has not been promoted adequately in Nepal despite its potential. Being agriculture dominated economy, agro based fuel such as biodiesel can be promoted as a sustainable and affordable source of rural energy in Nepal.
The project aims to use the Jatropha seeds growing in the community waste lands and as hedges in the private lands to produce biodiesel locally and use it for rural applications mainly for operating irrigation pumps. High cost of petro-diesel has prevented many poor terai households from using water pumps for irrigation. This project will support such households to locally produce Jatropha biodiesel and install irrigation pumps that operate on biodiesel. Community based approach will be applied in farming Jatropha seeds, utilizing biodiesel plant and irrigation pumps. This is believed to lower the cost of irrigation for the poor and ensure a sustainable source of fuel. The economic growth of such households will result through savings on irrigation, increase in crop yield and savings on fertilizer (as oil cake will replace the chemical fertilizer).
The project will also support in financing technologies, building local capacity, raising awareness, etc. Works will also be carried out to build inventory of other potential areas where this pilot initiative can be replicated and building partnerships with AEPC and other stakeholders to up-scale this initiative in future.
