August 2010. A report by the FAO on Jatropha notes that the plant is an alternative crop for small farmers “particularly in semi-arid, remote areas that have little opportunity for alternative farming strategies, few alternative livelihood options and increasing environmental degradation”. However, decisions about Jatropha “have been made without the backing of sufficient science-based knowledge,” the FAO says in the review, which includes case studies from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, there is need for research on genetic improvement of varieties, on cultivation practices such as water conservation and integrated pest and nutrient management, the review recommends. Yields are far less than expected, it seems.

See the review at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1219e/i1219e.pdf

There was a lot of agreement among members, some of whom were involved in growing the crop.