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Timor-Leste
Agricultural Rehabilitation, Economic Growth, and Natural Resources Management Project

Agroforestry trees in Timor-Leste

Jatropha curcuas is a common useful plant in home gardens in East Timor and throughout Southeast Asia. It forms a good hedge and is not browsed by livestock. In December 2004, we observed farmers in Fatulia planting Jatropha on a larger scale. They told us they had a market for the seeds for oil or soap making from a foreign buyer.

The World Bank has published some information on the use of Jatropha in Africa. A book on Jatropha, Physic Nut: Jatropha curcas L., by Joachim Heller, 1996, CABI, may be ordered or downloaded from the IPGRI website.

The Plant Resources of Southeast Asia website has an article on potential uses of Jatropha.

Jatropha curcas, border planting in farm yard in Los Palos. Photo by J. B. Friday, December 2004.
Leaves and buds of Jatropha curcas. Photo by J. B. Friday, December 2004.
A field in Fatulia, Venilale, recently cleared and planted with Jatropha. Note the resprouting Chromalena. The Jatropha is planted by large cuttings. Photo by J. B. Friday, December 2004.
Corn and squash interplanted in the field with Jatropha. Photo by J. B. Friday, December 2004.
Jatropha gossipifolia, a common weed in coastal areas in East Timor. Photo near Laga, J. B. Friday, December 2004.
The development issue is not the amount of money and expertise we can hand out, but the prophetic fire and depth we can communicate to ask new questions and summon people to take their destiny in their own hands, together as co-workers with God.

- Phillip Potter, quoted in Liklik Buk
Last updated on 8/1/2006