From 6019d396d64a3674c7ca269f49581aa1521b29ca Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Ines Whish Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2025 03:03:27 +0800 Subject: [PATCH] Add Cotton Waste Biofuel Powers Farmers to Combat Drought In Kenya --- ...wers-Farmers-to-Combat-Drought-In-Kenya.md | 40 +++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 40 insertions(+) create mode 100644 Cotton-Waste-Biofuel-Powers-Farmers-to-Combat-Drought-In-Kenya.md diff --git a/Cotton-Waste-Biofuel-Powers-Farmers-to-Combat-Drought-In-Kenya.md b/Cotton-Waste-Biofuel-Powers-Farmers-to-Combat-Drought-In-Kenya.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca2797d --- /dev/null +++ b/Cotton-Waste-Biofuel-Powers-Farmers-to-Combat-Drought-In-Kenya.md @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +
By Nita Bhalla
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KITUI, Kenya, June 6 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kenyan farmer Abel Mutie Mathoka believed it must be a joke when he was informed he might irrigate his drought-hit crops more cheaply, easily and [effectively utilizing](https://www.abnnewswire.net/companies/en/31347/%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%97-Mission-NewEnergy-%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94.html/4) a pump fuelled by cotton waste.
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"Who could think it's possible to make a fuel better than diesel from cotton seeds? I didn't!" chuckled Mathoka, crouching down to examine the watermelons on his 10-acre (four-hectare) shared plot in Ituri village in Kenya's southeast Kitui county.
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"But it works," he stated, strolling over to a neighboring tree and plucking a big green pawpaw. "Irrigation with this biodiesel water pump has assisted me get higher yields, particularly throughout drought periods."
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Mathoka said his earnings had doubled in the 2 years he has actually been pumping water using biodiesel, which is both more effective and 20 shillings ($0.20) per litre more affordable than regular diesel.
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The [biodiesel](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile) he is utilizing is not simply great news for him - it is likewise good news for the planet.
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Unlike most biofuels, which are originated from crops such as maize, sugarcane, soybean, rapeseed and [jatropha](https://www.abnnewswire.net/companies/en/31347/%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%97-Mission-NewEnergy-%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94.html/4), it is made from a byproduct of the cotton-making process.
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That indicates that in addition to being [cleaner](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) and less expensive than regular fuel, it is more sustainable than other biofuels due to the fact that no additional land is required to produce it.
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From Brazil to Indonesia, the rush to cultivate biofuel crops has actually driven forest neighborhoods off their land and pushed farmers to change from [crops-for-food](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1463471/000165495419013063/R31.htm) to more rewarding crops-for-fuel - intensifying food shortages.
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"Our [biodiesel](https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/shares/asx-mbt/mission-newenergy-limited/share-price) comes from crushing cotton seeds left over as waste after ginning - the procedure of separating the seeds from raw cotton," [stated Taher](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) Zavery, handling director of Zaynagro Industries Ltd, the Kitui-based business producing the [biodiesel](https://www.zoominfo.com/c/mission-newenergy/346542889).
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"We started producing and utilizing it to power our cotton ginning factory in 2011. With increased production, we now use it for our trucks, offer it to the United Nations to run a few of their buses - and likewise to regional farmers for irrigation."
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More than 1,200 farmers in Kitui have actually up until now bought biodiesel pumps for irrigation as part of an effort released by [Zaynagro](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159346/mission-newenergy-delivers-maiden-biodiesel-production-to-global-oil-major-24476.html) in 2015, stated Zavery.
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DRY RIVER BEDS
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Climate modification is taking a toll throughout east Africa and significantly irregular weather condition is ending up being commonplace in countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopia, leading to lower rains.
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The recurring dry spells are destroying crops and pastures and are starving animals - pushing millions of people in the Horn of Africa to the brink of extreme hunger.
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The variety of Kenyans in need of [food aid](https://www.pinterest.com.au/missionnewenergy/) in March surged by practically 70 percent over a period of 8 months to 1.1 million, mostly due to poor rains, according to government figures.
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With nearly half Kenya's 47 counties declared to have a serious scarcity of rain, humanitarian agencies are warning of [increased hunger](https://forest500.org/rankings/companies/mission-newenergy-limited) in the months ahead.
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"Only light rainfall is anticipated through June ... and this is not expected to ease drought in impacted locations of Kenya and Somalia," said the Famine Early Warning Systems Network in its newest report.
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"Well below-average crop production, bad livestock body conditions, and increased local food costs are anticipated, which will decrease poor homes' access to food."
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In Kitui's Kyuso location, the indications are already apparent.
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Rivers, water pans and dams are drying up as a result of the prolonged dry spell.
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Villagers grumble of trekking longer distances - often more than 10 km (6 miles) with their donkeys laden with empty jerry cans searching for water.
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Small-scale farmers, the majority of whom are dependent on rain-fed farming, talk about strategies to offer their goats to make ends satisfy if the harvest is poor.
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BATTLING DROUGHT WITH [BIODIESEL](https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/felda-global-buys-missions-kuantan-port-plant-for-11-5-million-9053)
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But not all Kitui's farmers are worried.
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A small but growing number are shedding their problem of reliance on the weather - and purchasing watering systems powered by Zaynagro's cotton seed biodiesel through a pay-as-you-go plan released more than three years earlier.
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Neighbouring farmers unite to purchase the irrigation system - that includes the biodiesel pump, 12 metres of pipelines and 10 litres of biodiesel - at costs beginning with 32,000 shillings, depending on the size of the pump.
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The farmers make a preliminary payment, then pay interest-free monthly instalments till the total is settled. They buy the biodiesel to run the pumps from Zaynagro at 80 shillings a litre.
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Farmer Alex Babu Kitheka, 39, said the [biodiesel](https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/felda-global-buys-missions-kuantan-port-plant-for-11-5-million-9053) [pump enabled](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159346/mission-newenergy-delivers-maiden-biodiesel-production-to-global-oil-major-24476.html) him to water a larger part of his one-acre plot, where he grows a range of vegetables including maize, tomatoes, spinach and sweet potatoes.
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"With a diesel pump, maize yields were lower and I would get 15,000 shillings in 3 months. With the biodiesel pump, I can earn 45,000 shillings," said Alex Babu Kitheka, standing near his plot in Ilangilo village, 40 km (25 miles) from Kitui town.
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CIRCULAR ECONOMY
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Other [farmers](https://www.abnnewswire.net/companies/en/31347/%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%97-Mission-NewEnergy-%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94.html/4) point to the scheme as a significant benefit in helping improve their output.
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"The instalment plan is excellent. Most farmers don't have the cash and can not quickly get a loan to buy a pump like this," stated Maurice Kitheka Munyoki, 41, as he stood beside his blue [biodiesel](https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/felda-global-buys-missions-kuantan-port-plant-for-11-5-million-9053) pump.
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"Having a scheme like this assists us a lot. Our yields are good which suggests we can pay off the cost of the pump gradually in percentages, and have money left over to pay the school charges."
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Zaynagro's effort is still in its early phases, with couple of farmers having actually repaid the complete expense of the pumps.
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But such [biofuel](https://www.abnnewswire.net/companies/en/31347/%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%97-Mission-NewEnergy-%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94.html/4) plans are appealing due to the fact that they produce a circular economy by turning waste to [biofuel](https://www.businessnews.com.au/Company/Mission-NewEnergy) for profit, [stated Sanjoy](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1463471/000165495419013063/R31.htm) Sanyal, senior associate for Clean Energy Finance at the World Resources Institute.
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The simplicity of the design - user friendly, robust technology, ensured supply of biodiesel combined with a pay-as-you-go plan - might help energize rural Africa, he stated.
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"There is a mosaic of sustainable energy options worldwide. The key problem is testing concepts and techniques in a collective fashion," said Sanyal.
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"Other cotton ginning factories in the area must attempt and discover from this experiment. Financial institutions need to begin exploring with loans to groups of farmers. International donors and investors need to support experimentation."
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($1 = 101.3000 Kenyan shillings) (Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, [Editing](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) by . Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, ladies's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, [property](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/MNELF:US) rights and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org)
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