RSS
Fueling Africa’s Future
The African nation of Nigeria may be taking the lead in sustainable biofuels. A government body has approved funding to assist farmers in the planting and cultivation of the jatropha tree. The jatropha tree produces peanut sized seeds that can be refined into oil for use as a bio-fuel. Jatropha is not a food source, can be grown in arid or moist climates, does not compete with food crops for cultivatable land and may even help turn back some of the desertification plaguing much of Africa.
Should this tree produce as theorized, Nigeria and other African nations may finally have an industry that could pull them out of centuries of economic struggle. In addition to producing a sustainable and renewable fuel source, the plant could reduce food costs and kick-start an entire continent’s economic engine. Imagine an Africa where new industries spring up around newly created agricultural zones, where money and jobs pour into a once desolate and starving landscape. Where all nations can produce wealth through agri-business instead of tribal warfare.
Maybe I have become overtaken by the far-off possibility of a plant that cures fuel demand, eases poverty and ends starvation. But if it works and the world takes interest, Africa’s future could be dominated by prosperity instead of strife and that is worth some time and investment.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I must be a half-empty sort of person after all. All I envision is yet another region filled with Islamic extremism that has the blessing of financial stability. We need to get some missionaries over there STAT!
May 8th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
The problem with your theory is that you place the blame for Africa’s poverty on economic considerations. Africa has a religion problem, not an economic problem. There are huge opportunities for economic advancement and I personally know several people involved in developing them. The hurdles to overcome are religious which result in cultural and political blocks. Scarcity of resources is not the problem and a new government program to develop them is not a solution.
May 12th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Dean-
One’s faith in God above may not distract him/her from existence on Earth. Africa certainly does face economic problems. Religious strife, certainly as well. But a million missionary march will not solve the continent’s problems.