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Agricultural
Growing hardy desert jojoba shrubs on dry or salty land to sell their oil-rich seeds. A long-term crop that starts yielding in year four.
Where it fits:MoroccoYemenSyriaTürkiyeThe GambiaNigeria
Agricultural
Growing hardy desert jojoba shrubs on dry or salty land to sell their oil-rich seeds. A long-term crop that starts yielding in year four.
Where it fits:MoroccoYemenSyriaTürkiyeThe GambiaNigeria
Jojoba is a desert shrub that tolerates harsh conditions: it survives from -5 °C to 50 °C, handles salty soil, resists pests and diseases and needs little water. That makes it a good fit for desert and marginal land, where it is grown for its seeds, which the study says sell from about $2 a kilo.
The seeds look like peanuts and are about 50% oil, chemically a liquid wax, used in cosmetics, high-speed engine oils, medicine, plastics and rubber. After pressing, the meal is about 30% protein and can go into animal feed (it usually needs treatment first, estimate).
The original study covers 10 feddans and expects revenue of about $250,000 over 12 years of harvests (years 4 to 15), noting this is revenue, not net profit. The project can start on one feddan (about 4,200 m²) or grow larger.
Note: there is no income for the first three years, so it suits someone with land and another source of income, or an existing farm that adds jojoba.
The study puts world demand for jojoba oil at about 200,000 tonnes a year, with production covering only 5% of it. These are the study's figures and have not been verified; make sure there are real buyers in your area before planting (estimate).
With selected seedlings, one feddan takes 620–700 female seedlings plus half a kilo of seed for the male shrubs needed for wind pollination. Seedlings yield about twice as much as direct seeding.
For 10 feddans planted with seedlings, the study projects 2,800 kg of seed in year 4, 7,750 kg in year 8 and 20,609 kg in year 15, assuming 15% yearly growth from year 8. For one feddan, divide by about 10: roughly 280 kg in year 4 and 775 kg in year 8.
You will usually need proof of land ownership or a lease and registration with the local agriculture office. Check local rules for land reclamation, well drilling and use of treated wastewater before starting.
| Equipment | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drip irrigation network for one feddan | 1 | Lines, emitters, filter and valves; ≈ $700–1,200 (estimate) |
| Water pump (electric, fuel or small solar) | 1 | Depends on the water source; ≈ $250–600 (estimate) |
| Plastic water tank, 2–5 m³ | 1 | ≈ $150–350 (estimate) |
| Hand tools (shovels, hoes, pruning shears, wheelbarrow) | 1 set | ≈ $100–200 (estimate) |
| Nets or sheets for collecting seed | 10–20 | ≈ $50–150 (estimate) |
| Seed storage bags and containers | As needed | ≈ $30–60 (estimate) |
Drip irrigation network for one feddan
Quantity: 1
Lines, emitters, filter and valves; ≈ $700–1,200 (estimate)
Water pump (electric, fuel or small solar)
Quantity: 1
Depends on the water source; ≈ $250–600 (estimate)
Plastic water tank, 2–5 m³
Quantity: 1
≈ $150–350 (estimate)
Hand tools (shovels, hoes, pruning shears, wheelbarrow)
Quantity: 1 set
≈ $100–200 (estimate)
Nets or sheets for collecting seed
Quantity: 10–20
≈ $50–150 (estimate)
Seed storage bags and containers
Quantity: As needed
≈ $30–60 (estimate)
Source: Approved nurseries and government agricultural bodies
Cost: $1–2 each, $620–1,400 per feddan (estimate)
620–700 per feddan
Source: Nurseries and farmers' associations
Cost: $20–50 (estimate)
Half a kilo per feddan
Source: Nurseries and farmers' associations
Cost: $80–250 per feddan (estimate)
4–5 kg per feddan; about half the yield of seedlings
Source: Fertiliser dealers
Cost: $100–250 a year per feddan (estimate)
Yearly
Source: Well or irrigation network
Cost: Varies by area (estimate)
Salty water can be used
İktifa buys the equipment in the owner's name and presence, up to about $2,000. No cash changes hands.
The project starts working before any repayment, with mentoring through the first year.
Instalments follow a schedule agreed with the owner, based on the feasibility study.
Repayments, and 15% of profits to the local fund, equip the next skilled person.
Exact amounts and schedules are agreed for each project after the feasibility study.
Pick the land, confirm the water source and make sure there are seed buyers in the area.
Level the land and install drip irrigation.
Use 3 × 2 m or 3.5 × 1.5 m spacing and dig the planting holes.
Plant selected female seedlings and sow seed in set holes to grow the male shrubs needed for pollination.
Water lightly and regularly, fertilise, weed, prune and replace dead seedlings.
From year 4, collect the seeds as they ripen and fall, then clean and dry them.
Store the seed in dry containers and sell to traders or oil presses; later, consider pressing locally.
Applicable countries
Warm, dry south suits jojoba; confirm buyers first.
Desert climate fits, but the market and export channels are unclear.
Warm dry areas may suit; buyers and frost risk need checking.
Climate fits only in limited southern areas.
Only drier northern areas may suit; high humidity does not.
Only the dry north may suit; humid areas do not.
Use this project model as the basis of your in-kind support application. Adapt it to your local market and capacity.
Jojoba is a desert shrub that tolerates harsh conditions: it survives from -5 °C to 50 °C, handles salty soil, resists pests and diseases and needs little water. That makes it a good fit for desert and marginal land, where it is grown for its seeds, which the study says sell from about $2 a kilo.
The seeds look like peanuts and are about 50% oil, chemically a liquid wax, used in cosmetics, high-speed engine oils, medicine, plastics and rubber. After pressing, the meal is about 30% protein and can go into animal feed (it usually needs treatment first, estimate).
The original study covers 10 feddans and expects revenue of about $250,000 over 12 years of harvests (years 4 to 15), noting this is revenue, not net profit. The project can start on one feddan (about 4,200 m²) or grow larger.
Note: there is no income for the first three years, so it suits someone with land and another source of income, or an existing farm that adds jojoba.
The study puts world demand for jojoba oil at about 200,000 tonnes a year, with production covering only 5% of it. These are the study's figures and have not been verified; make sure there are real buyers in your area before planting (estimate).
With selected seedlings, one feddan takes 620–700 female seedlings plus half a kilo of seed for the male shrubs needed for wind pollination. Seedlings yield about twice as much as direct seeding.
For 10 feddans planted with seedlings, the study projects 2,800 kg of seed in year 4, 7,750 kg in year 8 and 20,609 kg in year 15, assuming 15% yearly growth from year 8. For one feddan, divide by about 10: roughly 280 kg in year 4 and 775 kg in year 8.
You will usually need proof of land ownership or a lease and registration with the local agriculture office. Check local rules for land reclamation, well drilling and use of treated wastewater before starting.
| Equipment | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drip irrigation network for one feddan | 1 | Lines, emitters, filter and valves; ≈ $700–1,200 (estimate) |
| Water pump (electric, fuel or small solar) | 1 | Depends on the water source; ≈ $250–600 (estimate) |
| Plastic water tank, 2–5 m³ | 1 | ≈ $150–350 (estimate) |
| Hand tools (shovels, hoes, pruning shears, wheelbarrow) | 1 set | ≈ $100–200 (estimate) |
| Nets or sheets for collecting seed | 10–20 | ≈ $50–150 (estimate) |
| Seed storage bags and containers | As needed | ≈ $30–60 (estimate) |
Drip irrigation network for one feddan
Quantity: 1
Lines, emitters, filter and valves; ≈ $700–1,200 (estimate)
Water pump (electric, fuel or small solar)
Quantity: 1
Depends on the water source; ≈ $250–600 (estimate)
Plastic water tank, 2–5 m³
Quantity: 1
≈ $150–350 (estimate)
Hand tools (shovels, hoes, pruning shears, wheelbarrow)
Quantity: 1 set
≈ $100–200 (estimate)
Nets or sheets for collecting seed
Quantity: 10–20
≈ $50–150 (estimate)
Seed storage bags and containers
Quantity: As needed
≈ $30–60 (estimate)
Source: Approved nurseries and government agricultural bodies
Cost: $1–2 each, $620–1,400 per feddan (estimate)
620–700 per feddan
Source: Nurseries and farmers' associations
Cost: $20–50 (estimate)
Half a kilo per feddan
Source: Nurseries and farmers' associations
Cost: $80–250 per feddan (estimate)
4–5 kg per feddan; about half the yield of seedlings
Source: Fertiliser dealers
Cost: $100–250 a year per feddan (estimate)
Yearly
Source: Well or irrigation network
Cost: Varies by area (estimate)
Salty water can be used
İktifa buys the equipment in the owner's name and presence, up to about $2,000. No cash changes hands.
The project starts working before any repayment, with mentoring through the first year.
Instalments follow a schedule agreed with the owner, based on the feasibility study.
Repayments, and 15% of profits to the local fund, equip the next skilled person.
Exact amounts and schedules are agreed for each project after the feasibility study.
Pick the land, confirm the water source and make sure there are seed buyers in the area.
Level the land and install drip irrigation.
Use 3 × 2 m or 3.5 × 1.5 m spacing and dig the planting holes.
Plant selected female seedlings and sow seed in set holes to grow the male shrubs needed for pollination.
Water lightly and regularly, fertilise, weed, prune and replace dead seedlings.
From year 4, collect the seeds as they ripen and fall, then clean and dry them.
Store the seed in dry containers and sell to traders or oil presses; later, consider pressing locally.
Applicable countries
Warm, dry south suits jojoba; confirm buyers first.
Desert climate fits, but the market and export channels are unclear.
Warm dry areas may suit; buyers and frost risk need checking.
Climate fits only in limited southern areas.
Only drier northern areas may suit; high humidity does not.
Only the dry north may suit; humid areas do not.
Use this project model as the basis of your in-kind support application. Adapt it to your local market and capacity.
Morocco
Yemen
Syria
Türkiye
The Gambia
Nigeria