KIMMINIC entered into five joint venture agreements with local traditional councils in the Brong Ahafo region in Ghana to secure all its plantation land base now totalling 65,000 hectares.

Our earlier research confirmed that seed yield of the plant is a function of soil water supply, nutrients, climactic temperature and the age of the plant. With the help of our team of agronomists and crop scientists, we have determined the most appropriate production methods for Ghana. KIMMINIC employs a Ghanaian variety of Jatropha curcas on our plantations which was selected through research from among 13 varieties currently found in Ghana and Togo. It produces fruit within six months of direct seeding on the fields.

Through nine years of research we have determined the right soil conditions, appropriate rainfall and the best terrain for achieving optimal yield from the variety we are working with. This is further enhanced by the right selection of seeds for multiplication, proper care of trees including careful engineering of the tree architecture through pruning, and the development of a well-trained labor force. Our approach is aimed at ultimately optimizing seed production to at least 10 to 12 tonnes per hectare per year at full maturity of the tree which is attained at 20 months of growth following seed planting.

KIMMINIC is also implementing an outgrower model for Jatropha seed production. Our main criterion is for farmers to plant the crop around their farms as a hedge or fence. The objectives of this approach are to prevent the replacement of food crops with Jatropha and to increase farm income by the introduction of an additional revenue source for local farmers.