Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) is a deciduous shrub that grows up to a height of 3-5 metres and has a productive life of 50 years. It can be established on marginal land, paddocks, contour ridges, hilly slopes and gullies. The most promising and currently exploited uses of JCL are in rural agro-industrial development such as soap and candle making. A study was carried out in Makosa Ward of Mutoko District in Zimbabwe. A structured questionnaire, which elicited farmers’ perceptions on JCL in terms of agronomic practices and utilisation, was administered to 60 randomly selected JCL growers. Most land for JCL production is prepared by digging with hoes and propagation is mainly by seeds. The shrub is used as a live fence since it is not browsed by cattle and goats. The other advantages of cultivating JCL as indicated by the farmers were its adaptation to the local environment, fast growth rate and its potential for income generation. The major limitations of JCL were its seed toxicity to both humans and livestock and its lack of a woody stem, which renders it unsuitable for use as firewood. JCL seed cake had a relatively high total nitrogen, phosphorous and organic matter content compared to chicken and cattle manure and therefore has potential in soil fertility improvement research agendas in areas where the plant is grown in abundance. Other potential research areas include fertiliser requirements, intercropping, irrigation requirements, effects of pruning, identification of different provenances through characterisation and evaluation, propagation methods and use of seed cake as a protein supplement to livestock feed.