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For those of you not familiar with me, please allow me to introduce myself.
Many years ago, in an attempt to develop a cohesive approach to effecting changes in Jamaica, I became associated with a several Jamaican-focused organizations within the U.S. In doing so, I had the privilege of collaborating on several philanthropic initiatives throughout rural Jamaica. To date, I maintain a correspondence with over 32,000 Jamaicans living around the globe.
Sharing a focus of energizing Jamaica with educational and economic opportunities, many of you have made commitments and pledged to work towards this common purpose. However, the overwhelming consensus was, and still is, your repeated inquires concerning a plan of action. So in consideration of all the factors that have brought us to this point, I am now asking you to join me and all the others committed to this goal.
In the next couple of months, I shall propose an investor-funded venture that outlines my plans for achieving this. At that time, I will once again ask for your continued support towards this initiative. The following is a synopsis of the plan, which will be submitted to you in the near future.
Jamaica ripe for bio-fuel
Jamaica has a dense rural geography, which has traditionally been utilized for farming and rearing livestock. However over the past two decades, Jamaican's vast urban drift have crippled most of the nation's rural agricultural communities, giving rise to import-dependency and larceny - an act that plagues existing Jamaican farmers, leaving them with little production capacity.
In view of this and other local factors, I would like to focus on a bio-fuel venture, which not only re-invigorate rural farming communities, but one which emphasize the importance of agriculture as a viable component for achieving sustainable development. This venture will more than incorporate the use of agro-processing technology; it will facilitate personal development through education and training. More significantly, it will create jobs and provide a resource, vital to the overall sustainability and development of the country.
Like many developing nations, Jamaica's energy sector has a crucial role to play towards the country's continued development. However, the increasing energy consumption patterns by import-dependent Jamaica may actually prove to be a barrier to development. The impacts of this are widespread and appear to hinder development in terms of economic growth and poverty reduction. Furthermore, Jamaica has no proven fossil fuel reserves, and is almost completely dependent on fully-imported diesel fuel for electricity production and other power applications.
This situation has serious implications for a country like Jamaica with limited reserves of foreign currencies and no reserve supplies of fossil fuels to insulate the nation from price shocks. Consequently Jamaicans face some of the highest energy prices in the world and an insecure supply. Last year alone the country had an oil bill of US$1.6 billion.
A bio-fuel venture and the impact of cultivating a fuel crop may offer a solution to some of these issues by providing a substitute for diesel fuel that can be manufactured locally for a lower price, and independent of the international oil price. The local production and use of bio-fuel also offers other benefits such as improved energy security, rural development opportunities and environmental benefits.
Bio-fuel from the castor oil plant
Of the several fuel crops considered, the Castor oil plant (ricinus communis) appears to be a particularly suitable source of bio-fuel as it already grows commonly in Jamaica. Moreover, the Castor oil plant has been widely accepted as an agricultural solution for all subtropical and tropical locations that addresses the need for commercial crops with low impute costs and at the same time provides traditional farming with a viable income from current non productive lands:
Castor oil plant does not compete with food crops, can be grown on marginal lands, which are not competitive with food production lands.
Castor oil plant is not competing with food grade oils.
Its toxicity is sensed by animals and therefore not foraged on.
Its high yielding, when no maintenance is applied to the crop, to a high end yield where annual rainfalls happen at the right times.
It has a very high oil content of approximately 50%.
The oil seed is collected by hand, by picking the ripe pods from the plant.
It requires only moderate rainfall and can withstand long periods of drought, but will thrive under higher rainfall.
It is an uncomplicated crop that requires little attention during its growing periods.
Due to its low demand on soil fertility, it is ideal to replant marginal lands to prevent erosion.
Given the similar geographical, climatic and lack of rural employment opportunities, growing a crop for renewable energy provides the answer for long term prosperity. It is generally accepted that no matter how much oil seed is produced, there will not be an over supply for many decades to come.
In conjunction to growing the Castor oil plant, a number of additional business models will be developed to support the commercialization of the bio-fuel production. For example, a plantation model that encourages private farmers to produce the Castor oil plant on their own properties will be beneficial in respect to minimizing initial risk and maximizing community involvement and sustainable benefits.
In this model a central refinery would be operated by the investor-owned venture that buys the castor oil seeds from the farmers. The venture may also directly purchase land for establishing a plant nursery to ensure consistent supply and quality of the Castor oil seeds.
I am confident that local production of bio-fuel from the Castor oil plant in rural Jamaica will offer good potential benefits for investors, the economy, rural communities and the environment.
In the meantime should you require additional information on this planned bio-fuel initiative, please contact me.
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