Tuba-tuba training program launched

The Philippine Forest Corp. (PhilForest) and the College of Forestry and Natural Resources at UP Los Baños launched recently a training program for the personnel of state colleges and universities (SCUs) involved in the propagation of tuba-tuba.

PhilForest said the program aims to provide trainees with appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes on planning for nursery and plantation establishment and management of tuba-tuba or jatropha as an alternative source of bio-fuel, particularly diesel substitute.

The training program has been designed for supervisors/foremen, nursery personnel and other staff of SCUs involved in the CHED-SCU partnership for biofuel research and enterprise development project.

The first batch that underwent training last Aug. 20-27 at the training center for tropical resources and ecosystems sustainability (TREES) at UP Los Baños came from Isabela State University; Quirino State College; Pampanga Agricultural College; Tarlac College of Agriculture; Pangasinan State University; Mariano Marcos State University and Camarines Sur State Agricultural College

The second batch — Sept. 3-10 — is composed by representatives from Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology; Leyte State University; Capiz State University; Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology; Surigao del Sur Polytechnic State College; Central Mindanao University; Western Mindanao State University, and University of Southern Mindanao.

PhilForest is a newly-organized subsidiary of the Natural Resources Development Corp. (NRDC) specifically commissioned to pursue the commercial cultivation of tuba-tuba, which has been identified as a promising source of bio-diesel, under the ongoing massive reforestation program of the government.

The state initiative to undertake research and development program on alternative energy sources, like the perennial shrub tuba-tuba, was prompted by the steep increases in the prices of imported fossil fuel which have breached the $70 per barrel barrier in the world market.

Scientifically known as jatropha curcas, this species is locally known as tubang-bakod or tuba-tuba. Its roots, bark and leaves are used by local folk for treating various illnesses. They also find it effective as insect repellent. The small tree is also used as fencing material and planted to control soil erosion. However, it is the extracted oil from its seeds that has caught the interest of many researchers. Initial findings suggest that the quality of its oil is equivalent to that of diesel fuel.

The commercial production of biofuel from Jatropha would require substantial supply of quality planting stocks, which at present is quite limited, to support the establishment of vast areas of tuba-tuba plantations.