Jatropha Curcas L

PRODUCTIVE PLANTS AS NATURAL OIL ALTERNATIVE

• Government decisian date October 1, 2005 "The rise of oil price.
• Farm, Fishery and Forestry Revitalization 2005.
• President instruction No. 1/2006 and President rule No. 5/2006 about the availability and use of biofuel as an alternative energy.
• The increase of poverty.
• Deforestation by the poor to substitute oil.
• No Cheap oil substitute for the society.
• Lack of Jatropha plantation as an alternative energy source.

Penanaman Hutan Gundul dengan Jatropha Curcas L

Especially for Jatropha Curcas, according to the literature can be harvested unti 50 years and survive a critical land, which means this plant very productive. The question is, how this we find the solution to this energy scarcity, empowering the society and businessworld by natural resources of Indonesia. Several media have reported that practitioners, academicians in many forum have suggested the importance of finding a solution to oil scarcity from substitute oil, fossil energy, gas, charcoal and another renewable energy such as earth heat, wind, bio mass and crops, wastes, poultry wastes, etc. while new energy can be inferred from nuclear and fuel cell.according to the Chief of Energi Hijau Society, the earth oil stock now is 9 billion barrel with reduction speed around 500 million barrel a year which means our supply of oil only survive until the next 18 years.

For the next 5 years President Yudhoyono have decided to fulfill the oil need. The bio diesel matter has been made a law; President Instruction No. 1/2006 about the supply and use of bio fuel as an alternative energy. In the National Jatropha Development Information Service Snalysis Journal December 15 2005 edition about Energi Hijau (literally means ‘Green Energy’. ed.), stated that President Yudhoyono had asked the Chief of Energi Hijau Society Indonesia to make a brief explanation about alternative energy strategy. President and staff also visited Tegal where a machine of 8,5 pk capacity is fueled by pure Jatropha Oil. There is also a declaration from 16 ministers, Pertamina, PLN, ITB, IPB and other institutions to support the Poverty Reduction Program by forestation and rehabilitation 10 million critical land with Jatropha, coconut, sugar cane, sago palm, etc. Other states have also prepared Jatropha in advance: India.

WHAT, WHO, AND HOW JATROPHA?

From the literature that I read, Jaropha Curcas L or Jatropha AcerifoliaSalisb, Jatropha Janipha Blanco, Curcas Indica Rich, Curcas Purgans Medik are widespread in many area. As a wild plants or not. In Java, this plant grow well but nobody has ever maintain this plant. The plant needs low rainfall and humidity, high intention of light so that this plant is resistant to dryness. Resistant in a hot area 300 meter above sea level, 20 to 35 celcius degree. The seeds contain oil from 40 to 60%. All parts of Jatropha are beneficial for humanbeing. When the oil price rise, Jatropha suddenly become a ‘rising-star’ as an alternative energy. Another character of Jatropha: the leaves are light green in color, heart-shaped, or round, the flower yellow greenish in color. The fruit shape is oval-like, the color is green when still young and turn yellow when ripe. Seeds color brown-blackish, containing oil.

In some media like Kompas, Kontan or seminar about the rise of oil price, alternative energy from Crude Palm Oil of coconut is quite expensive and the stock is limited. Coconut is usually planted outside Java while we can find Jatropha very easily in Java. From rude calculation, the cost of Jatropha is cheaper than making oil from coconut.

From my observation, I try to plant Jatropha with several friends in university, farmers and practitioners, it’s easy. We can hunt the seeds in villages, mountain, around the graveyard, and riverbank. In Clacap, the stalks are sold in a very cheap price. In Surabaya, I see a Jatropha plant in front of Gedung Wanita Kalibokor. But no one knows about it. In the Office of Far and Fishery (PK PPK) Jl. Pagesangan Surabaya, JAtropha is being planted as well. Jatropha in UPN Veteran is even being planted beautifully, around 10.000 trees are prepared for the plantation. Jatropha in UPN has just planted for about 5 -7 months and now is blooming. It is expected that in the next 9-12 months, Jatropha can produce seeds. So Jatropha plantation is not that hard to imagine, since the cost is very cheap and the maintenance is very easy. From a business side, this is magnificent.

I think that the local government should facilitated and make a supportive policy. Academicians, businessmen and government should also cooperate. This opportunity should not be wasted. From seminars, workshops, limited discussion and any other activities taken to develop this Jatropha plantation, I can see that in fact this needs time. But in one year, we can feel the benefit. Indeed, there is a traumatic problem to be considered, the farmers can supply the raw material but no one buy them, now the government needs the supply but no one is prepared with the material. This is actually an interesting point. Another question, who will buy the material? When can it be felt? According to the media, Pertamina will start to sell bio diesel from a gas station in Jakarta with the price of Rp 4500,00 from coconut with a mixture of B-5 while the other 95% comes from solar. Coconut price is expensive, Rp 3000-Rp 3500 and there is only a small number of supplier. Jatropha is cheaper than the other material. The private sector and Pertamina is badly in need of Jatropha now and this is a good opportunity for anyone who is concerned about this material.

By : H. Hartadi Mintaroem

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