We refer to recent articles on agrofuels in Tanzania (“Rice farmers may be evicted by new biofuells,” and “Public fury halts biofuel onslaught on farmers, ” The EastAfrican September 28-October 4 and October 5-12, respectively).
However, not all agrofuels are created equal.
Oil palm and sugarcane require well-watered fertile soil; but many farmers grow jatropha in worse conditions around fields and homes.
In addition to providing oilseeds, jatropha hedges protect crops from animals, reduce soil erosion and serve as demarcations.
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