Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development - IAARD online
The visit of Malaysian Commodity and Agriculture Minister to Indonesia is a follow-up and agreement of the 3rd Ministerial Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) for commodities between Malaysia and Indonesia in Bali on 25 April 2008. One of the agreement points is both countries will collaborate to develop bio-diesel from fence castor oil (Jatropha Curcas). The collaboration to be conducted comprises research and development activities related to agronomic practices, breeding of quality seeds, and processing technology.
Indonesia targets 5% biofuel contribution for the national energy need in 2025, in line with the Presidential Decree no.5 of 2006. To achieve the target, energies of bio-ethanol base from cassava and sugar cane and bio-diesel base from castor oil and oil palm as the main raw materials have been developed. Indonesia commits to develop castor oil plantation in 1.54 million hectare area in 2010, and at present it has been realized for 130.000 Ha.
In supporting the development of bio-diesel from fence castor oil seeds as the raw material, Indonesian Center for Research and Development of Estate Crops receives a mandate to develop castor oil superior varieties. To fulfill the mandate, Castor Oil Main Plantations have been established and one of them is located in Pakuwon, Sukabumi.
The castor oil plant materials were obtained from the results of exploration conducted in five provinces, i.e. Lampung, Banten, West Java, West Sumatra and Central Java at the end of 2005. The prime seeds obtained from the Improved Population exploration have been distributed to users since 2006 and the potential production of dry seed in a year ranges from 1 – 1.5 ton/ha, while in the fourth year is 4-5 ton/ha.