By GRACE WEKESA
Kakamega,Kenya:An unknown disease has foiled efforts to introduce a new tree species in Kakamega County.
The Jatropha tree, known to contain biofuel in its fruit is being attacked by an unknown disease destroying it before maturity.
The disease mainly attacks the tree’s fruits from which biofuel is extracted by farmers for sale. Bukura Energy Centre which started the project five years ago has now approached Kenya Agricultural Research Institute in Kakamega for technical assistance.
The officer in-charge of the centre Mr Arthur Magugu said Kari advised them to send a sample of the affected tree for analysis.
Magugu was speaking to journalists after receiving students from Kilimo Secondary School who had visited the centre.
“We have not gone very far in our trials to introduce Jatropha here because our crop is failing. We are researching to establish the real cause and disease affecting the tree,’’ said Magugu.
Jatropha has produced tremendous results in tests done in other regions of Kenya’s dry climate zones of Kitui and Lodwar but seems not to be doing well in Bukura which receives
