Jojoba oil is expressed from the seeds of jojoba tree, which is a commercially grown shrub, native to the deserts of Arizona, California, and Mexico.  The tree, usually 1 to 2 metres tall bears a broad, dense crown with oval leaves and small, greenish-yellow flowers.

Uses

Jojoba leaves are used as livestock feed. The nuts are eaten by squirrels, rabbits and birds.
Jojoba oil is used as lubricant and substitute fuel for cars and trucks.
Jojoba oil is also used as a cosmetic and medicine for skin ailments. According to Howard Scott Gentry, a renowned Botanist of the Southwest (1933),    jojoba oil is a natural mimic of the oil secreted by human skin so it may be used to protect and lubricate skin and hair. Its soothing stops a range of skin problems and protects against premature aging and wrinkling caused by exposure to ultra violet radiation.

Jojoba in Africa

According to the Jojoba Society of America, Sudan has become a leader in the introduction of jojoba to Africa, where it has since done well because it is well adapted to hot climate and can be produced without the use of fertilizers. In Kenya, Jojoba was first planted in 1977, and today, small trial plantations are scattered in various research stations such as the Lake Turkana region and Voi.

In Tanzania, the crop is grown in Moshe and Dodoma. Other African countries which also grow jojoba in small scale are: South Africa, Namibia, Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, and Gambia. (The International Jojoba Association)

FCI initiatives

FCI in partnership with the Kenya Agricultural Productivity (KAP) is researching on the different jojoba products being traded in Kenya, customer awareness, demand, existing opportunities and threats facing the industry. The results should demystify jojoba and unearth its economic potential to the regional economies.