Tuba Tuba (jathropa curcas)

This Tuba-tuba tree, scientific name is jathropa curcas, is a “fast-growing small tree whose fruit actually is a nut. We found it during our impromptu visit at Balite Falls in Amadeo, Cavite.

Those nuts, actually almost killed me when I was in College. One morning, there were a group of kids in our neighborhood having fun eating the tuba tuba nut. Having a curious mind, I asked those kids what they were eating, and even tried one. The taste is heavenly, so I asked the kids to get some more. I ate around half a dozen of that nut. After eating, I immediately felt dizzy and started vomitting. My mother sensed that my vomitting is getting worst so she brought me to the nearby hospital. There, they pronounced, food poisoning. I stayed in the hospital for three days.

I plan to get back at this Tuba Tuba, vengeance will be mine! How? By becoming a millionaire with the help of the nut that almost took my life some two decades ago.

By planting tuba-tuba, one can be a millionare. According to Congressman Juan Miguel Zubiri, tuba-tuba's nut, can be processed into cooking oil or car fuel. Three kilos of tuba-tuba seeds or nuts could produce a liter of bio-diesel. Tuba-tuba bio-diesel readily mixes with diesel fuel and can run any diesel engine without modification,” he said. He said the small tree can bear fruit within three years from planting and can produce as much as 12 tons of nuts a year.He cited a study made by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which showed that a grower can earn P200,000 per hectare per year from the sale, and processing of tuba-tuba nuts.Zubiri said growing tuba-tuba does not require much investment.He said the DENR, under Administrative Order 2005-25, is making available up to four million hectares of denuded forestland for planting to tuba-tuba and other tree species. Individuals and groups can apply to till up to a maximum of 50 hectares each, he said. He added that the DENR will even provide the initial saplings for applicants to plant. Jatropha is a drought resistant perennial shrub or small tree that produces seeds up to 35 years but can live up to 50 years. Jatropha grows fast with little or no maintenance and reaches the average height of about 3 meters but it can grow up to 8 meters. Since the Jatropha plant’s average height is about three meters, harvesting is easy and the plant can be grown practically anywhere (ordinary soil, sandy, gravely or rocky soil) and adapts easily to different climates. Jatropha is resistant to droughts -it can stand up to two years without rainfall. The tree also has a short gestation period, it will bear a several fruits starting at about 6 months old and be fully fruit bearing between one to two years.

Other Benefits of Planting Tuba-tuba/Jatropha:

* The Jatropha/Tuba-tuba leaves can be used for fumigating houses to expel bugs.

* Aside from using the seed oil as biodiesel, the extracted oil can also be used in making soap.
* The roots, flowers and latex of the Jatropha plant are said to have medicinal properties.

* Planting Jatropha reduces soil degradation, erosion and deforestation of the countryside.

* The root extract of Jatropha plant can be used as yellow die while the bark extract as blue dye. While the seeds when pounded can be used for tanning.