From 117ee4100be214ec64c1914243ebf04c7207b7d6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: charissapassmo Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2025 17:34:47 +0000 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..3cf6ae0 --- /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 thought it needs to be a joke when he was informed he could water his drought-hit crops more inexpensively, cleanly and [efficiently utilizing](https://forest500.org/rankings/companies/mission-newenergy-limited) a [pump fuelled](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/mission-newenergy) by cotton waste.
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"Who could think it's possible to make a fuel much better than diesel from cotton seeds? I didn't!" laughed Mathoka, crouching down to check 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 nearby tree and plucking a large green pawpaw. "Irrigation with this biodiesel water pump has actually assisted me get greater yields, specifically throughout dry spell durations."
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Mathoka said his incomes had doubled in the 2 years he has actually been pumping water utilizing biodiesel, which is both more efficient and 20 shillings ($0.20) per litre cheaper than routine diesel.
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The biodiesel he is [utilizing](https://stocktwits.com/symbol/MNEL) is not just good news for him - it is also good news for the planet.
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Unlike many biofuels, which are stemmed from crops such as maize, sugarcane, soybean, rapeseed and [jatropha](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1463471/000165495419013063/R31.htm), it is made from a byproduct of the cotton-making procedure.
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That implies that in addition to being cleaner and less expensive than regular fuel, it is more sustainable than other biofuels because no extra land is needed to produce it.
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From Brazil to Indonesia, the rush to cultivate [biofuel](https://stocktwits.com/symbol/MNEL) crops has driven forest [neighborhoods](https://www.zoominfo.com/c/mission-newenergy/346542889) off their land and [pressed farmers](https://stocktwits.com/symbol/MNEL) to switch from crops-for-food to more profitable crops-for-fuel - exacerbating food scarcities.
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"Our biodiesel comes from crushing cotton seeds left over as waste after ginning - the procedure of separating the seeds from raw cotton," stated Taher Zavery, handling director of Zaynagro Industries Ltd, the Kitui-based company producing the biodiesel.
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"We started producing and using it to power our cotton ginning factory in 2011. With increased production, we now utilize it for our trucks, sell it to the United Nations to run a few of their buses - and also to regional farmers for watering."
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More than 1,200 farmers in Kitui have so far invested in biodiesel pumps for irrigation as part of an [effort introduced](https://www.businessnews.com.au/Company/Mission-NewEnergy) by Zaynagro in 2015, stated Zavery.
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DRY RIVER BEDS
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Climate modification is taking a toll across east Africa and increasingly unpredictable weather is ending up being commonplace in countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopia, leading to lower rainfall.
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The repeating droughts are ruining crops and pastures and are [starving animals](https://forest500.org/rankings/companies/mission-newenergy-limited) - pressing millions of individuals in the Horn of Africa to the verge of [severe hunger](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile).
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The variety of Kenyans in need of food aid in March rose by almost 70 percent over a duration of 8 months to 1.1 million, mainly due to poor rains, according to government figures.
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With almost half Kenya's 47 counties stated to have a serious scarcity of rain, humanitarian companies are alerting of [increased cravings](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/mission-newenergy) in the months ahead.
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"Only light rainfall is anticipated through June ... and this is not anticipated to minimize dry spell in impacted locations of Kenya and Somalia," stated the Famine Early Warning Systems Network in its latest report.
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"Well below-average crop production, poor animals body conditions, and increased regional food prices are prepared for, which will decrease bad families' access to food."
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In Kitui's Kyuso area, the indications are already obvious.
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Rivers, water pans and dams are drying up as an outcome of the prolonged drought.
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experience travelling longer [ranges -](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) often more than 10 km (6 miles) with their donkeys loaded with empty jerry cans in search of water.
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Small-scale farmers, many of whom are dependent on rain-fed agriculture, go over strategies to offer their goats to make ends meet if the harvest is bad.
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BATTLING DROUGHT WITH BIODIESEL
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But not all Kitui's farmers are worried.
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A small however growing number are shedding their burden of reliance on the weather - and purchasing irrigation systems powered by Zaynagro's cotton seed biodiesel through a pay-as-you-go plan launched more than three years back.
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Neighbouring farmers unite to invest in the [irrigation](https://forest500.org/rankings/companies/mission-newenergy-limited) system - which includes the biodiesel pump, 12 metres of [pipelines](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/MNELF:US) and 10 litres of [biodiesel -](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) at expenses beginning from 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 until the overall is [settled](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). They buy the [biodiesel](https://www.pinterest.com.au/missionnewenergy/) to run the pumps from Zaynagro at 80 shillings a litre.
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Farmer Alex Babu Kitheka, 39, said the biodiesel pump permitted him to water a bigger portion of his one-acre plot, where he grows a variety of veggies consisting of 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," stated 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 indicate the plan as a major benefit in assisting enhance their output.
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"The instalment plan is great. Most farmers do not have the money and can not quickly get a loan to purchase a pump like this," stated Maurice Kitheka Munyoki, 41, as he stood beside his blue biodiesel pump.
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"Having a scheme like this helps us a lot. Our yields are good which indicates we can pay off the cost of the pump slowly in percentages, and have money left over to pay the school fees."
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Zaynagro's effort is still in its early stages, with few farmers having repaid the complete expense of the pumps.
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But such [biofuel schemes](https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/shares/asx-mbt/mission-newenergy-limited/share-price) are promising 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, said Sanjoy Sanyal, senior partner for Clean Energy Finance at the World [Resources Institute](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048).
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The simplicity of the model - easy-to-use, robust technology, assured supply of biodiesel combined with a pay-as-you-go scheme - might help energize rural Africa, he said.
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"There is a mosaic of sustainable energy options in the world. The key concern is checking ideas and methods in a collaborative style," stated Sanyal.
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"Other cotton ginning factories in the region need to try and learn from this experiment. Banks need to start experimenting with loans to groups of farmers. International donors and financiers need to support experimentation."
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($1 = 101.3000 Kenyan shillings) (Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, Editing by Claire Cozens. Please credit the [Thomson Reuters](https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/shares/asx-mbt/mission-newenergy-limited/share-price) Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights and environment modification. Visit http://news.trust.org)
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