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Tuba-tuba for Oil, news feature posted at Egroup on 28 Nov 2006
NEWS FEATURE: posted on 28 November 2006
Gov't launches novel tact to buttress bid for energy independence
TUBA-TUBA FOR OIL
By Ed Velasco
09-October-2006 Philippine Graphic Magazine
Government has launched a novel approach in reducing the nation's dependence on imported fossil fuels, like crude oil, by tapping vast tracts of heretofore unproductive idle public and private lands (mostly denuded mountains and forests) for large-scale bio-fuel crop cultivation.
The initiative mandates the propagation and the commercial cultivation of the bio-fuel crop Jatropha Curcas L. or Tuba-Tuba, a drought resistant small tree that yields seeds, which contain a high concentration of oil that can substitute for petrol-based diesel.
Tasked to pursue the project, in partnership with individual farmers and agri-business enterprises, is the newly organized Philippine Forest Corporation (PhilForest), headed by Rodolfo Noel I. Lozada Jr. as president and chief executive officer, and who sits in the board composed of Environment Secretary Angelo T. Reyes, chairman; Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman; Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri and National Resources Development Corp. Chief Angelico Salud.
PhilForest operates as a corporate arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and has been given the mandate to distribute property and usufructuary rights over public agricultural and forestlands, as well as provide support to beneficiaries of such idle public lands in order to encourage active private sector involvement in the commercial planting of the Tuba-Tuba tree.
This means that landless individuals or groups could participate in the development of Tuba-Tuba plantations by availing themselves of the existing 25-year land stewardship program of the government through the DENR.
The Tuba-Tuba initiative is primarily aimed at making productive all idle public and private lands, particularly denuded mountains and forests, unfit for food crop cultivation; and produce in commercial volume a renewable and environment-friendly bio-fuel (Bio-diesel), thus alleviate poverty in the countryside and address ecological concerns.
The Tuba-Tuba's seeds yield a high concentration of oil that immediately upon extraction could be used as fuel for low revolution per minute (rpm) diesel engines, like generators and engine-powered farm implements such as hand tractors (popularly-known as kuliglig), water pumps and threshers.
With a minimum of processing, the Tuba-Tuba bio-diesel could run diesel engine-powered motor vehicles.
Surging crude prices
Lozada explains that government's decision to pursue the commercial cultivation of the Tuba-Tuba tree forms part of its total approach in reducing the nation's dependence on imported petroleum and other fossil fuels.
Lozada, who has a 20-year experience in executive and management positions, gives three reasons why the government is pinning its hopes on Tuba-Tuba in reducing the Philippines' over dependence to imported fossil fuels.
First, the shrub is considered a "beast of burden" because it is easy to grow compared to any of the 21 crops in the Philippines that can be used as source of alternative to fossil fuel. "You don't need a fertilizer or pesticide because the fruit and leaves can kill pert that will feast on it," he says.
Second, Tuba-Tuba farmers have sure market once the crop starts bearing fruits, usually on the 10th month after planting.
Third reason is profit. PhilForest buys every kilo of dried Tuba-Tuba seeds at 15% of the prevailing diesel pump prices. Before buying the produce, the dried Tuba-Tuba seeds must only contain less than 10% of the moisture level set by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
If seeds containing more than 10% of moisture level will be processed, the diesel will be less effective and might cause problem to the engine.
However, Lozada has an important message to anyone interested in planting the shrub. "We do not encourage anyone to abandon rice or corn farming and shift to Tuba-Tuba planting," the official assures.
At present, the official clarifies there is no commercial production of Tuba-Tuba diesel yet. All the seeds bought by the agency since its establishment in 2004 are intended for propagation before the full blast commercial selling.
Lozada expects to start commercial production of Tuba-Tuba diesel in May 2008, or one year-and-a-half from now. Once commercial production starts, Tuba-Tuba diesel will be bought similar to the prevailing pump prices of diesel sold by profit-oriented oil companies.
When this time comes, PhilForest will be able to transform 6,000 kilos of Tuba-Tuba seeds into diesel per week. With an output of one liter per 3.1 kilos of seeds, the official sees a Tuba-Tuba diesel output of more than 1,935 liters.
He says PhilForest has already bought 30 tons of dried seeds since 2004. All the seeds are planted at the PhilForest's main nursery at Old NAMRIA Bldg., Lawton Ave., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Lozada invites everyone engaged into Tuba-Tuba planting to sell seeds by sending these to the agency's office. Those who want to plant Tuba-Tuba but can't find seeds can also buy at PhilForest at P200 per kilo.
"I want to maximize the use of this shrub. It's not only environment-friendly, it is also the ultimate solution to our growing diesel consumption," Lozada explains.
He says now is the right time to mitigate the relentless increases in the prices of crude oil and its refined products on fears of shortages as a result of regional conflicts, terrorism and rising demand from China and India.
World oil prices have breached the $75/barrel level due to these factors, coupled with an awareness that supplies of fossil fuels will eventually run out.
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1/17/2007, 10:29 am
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searcabic
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Re: Tuba-tuba for Oil, news feature posted at Egroup on 28 Nov 2006
From: Hilario [mailto:hilpaddy@kfbg.org]
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 10:06 AM
To: bic@searcaweb.org
Cc: conservationfarming@yahoogroups.com; Vickee Padilla
Subject: Diversifying tuba-tuba varieties
Dear Folks,
I think that we should not be blinded by the current resistance of Jatropha against pest and diseases. Eventually, when planted monoculture on a wide scale especially when confined to narrow genetic variability, it will most likely encounter pest on catastrophic scale. This was already experienced with ipil-ipil used widely as hedgerow in contour farming (Psylid attack) in the 80's. It was corrected by diversifying the hedgerow species. Another example is the Chinese experience with rice blast disease. IRRI spent millions of $ for blast research but the Chinese came up with a simple solution. The Yunnan Agri University found out that planting 3-5 varieties of rice together prevents rice blast and they garnered several international awards. But mind you, this is an indigenous practice in the Phil Rice Terraces in the Cordillera. They plant 3-8 varieties of rice for different cultural uses like making rice wine, rice cake, for flavoring other varieties, awned varieties to protect field from birds and chickens, etc. The thing is "genetic uniformity is vulnerability, genetic variability is stability".
I have seen other varieties in Yunnan and Hainan Province of China. Tuba-tuba is used as live fence for their kitchen gardens. We could also collect from other areas. Would suggest to gather a wider genetic pool when we embark on a wide scale plantation.
I would highly appreciate if someone could pass this mail to Mr. Lozada. Nice foresight......Peak Oil is coming.....and probably mankind will go back to highly localize economies. This is what the suburban American lifestyle fears. Jatropha fits the upcoming scene.
Cheers,
Hil Padilla
Senior Agriculture Officer
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden
Hong Kong
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1/17/2007, 10:34 am
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