Bamako, Mali - The French Development Agency (AFD) has granted Malian firm Jatropha-Mali Initiative (JMI) 170.5 million FCFA (260,000 euro) to promote the growth of the plant, sources at the Malian Agriculture Ministry told PANA. The seed of Jatropha can be used to produce biofuel, as well as oil comparable to diesel. More than 3,250 hectares have already been planted by 3,500 farmers, under 24 cooperatives, from the circle (prefecture) of Kita. Some 12,000 more hectares are to be planted in the next few years. JMI is a subsidiary of the French group Eco-Carbone set up in 2007.

Its objective is to sustainably develop the production of Jatropha-based agro-fuel in the circle of Kita and that of Bafoulabé (West).

The grant convention has been signed by the AFD director in Mali, Hervé Bougault, and the managing director of JMI, Français Girandy.

Pana 02/04/2011