From 0eeaf06de07acf417858b169cf3b7aa394f2ad45 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: lzxjere066150 Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2025 04:58:41 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Update '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..e0d0905 --- /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 irrigate his drought-hit crops more inexpensively, easily and efficiently using a pump sustained 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!" laughed Mathoka, bending down to check the watermelons on his 10-acre (four-hectare) [shared plot](https://www.pinterest.com.au/missionnewenergy/) in Ituri town in Kenya's southeast Kitui county.
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"But it works," he said, walking over to a close-by tree and plucking a big green pawpaw. "Irrigation with this biodiesel water pump has assisted me get greater yields, especially during drought periods."
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Mathoka said his profits had doubled in the two years he has been pumping water utilizing [biodiesel](https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/felda-global-buys-missions-kuantan-port-plant-for-11-5-million-9053), which is both more effective and 20 shillings ($0.20) per litre more affordable than regular diesel.
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The biodiesel he is using is not just excellent news for him - it is likewise good news for the planet.
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Unlike the majority of biofuels, which are originated from crops such as maize, sugarcane, soybean, rapeseed and [jatropha](https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/shares/asx-mbt/mission-newenergy-limited/share-price), it is made from a byproduct of the cotton-making process.
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That implies that along with being cleaner and cheaper than routine 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](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) crops has actually driven forest neighborhoods off their land and pressed farmers to change from crops-for-food to more successful crops-for-fuel - intensifying .
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"Our biodiesel comes from squashing cotton seeds left over as waste after ginning - the process of separating the seeds from raw cotton," stated Taher Zavery, handling director of [Zaynagro](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) Industries Ltd, the [Kitui-based company](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) producing the biodiesel.
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"We began producing and utilizing 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 some of their buses - and also to regional farmers for watering."
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More than 1,200 farmers in Kitui have so far bought [biodiesel](https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/felda-global-buys-missions-kuantan-port-plant-for-11-5-million-9053) pumps for [irrigation](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/mission-newenergy) as part of an effort launched 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 significantly irregular weather condition is ending up being commonplace in [nations](https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-178469/company/) 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 - pushing millions of [individuals](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159352/mission-newenergy-debt-free-focused-on-biofuel-joint-venture-60797.html) in the Horn of Africa to the brink of severe hunger.
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The variety of Kenyans in need of food help in March rose by [practically](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) 70 percent over a duration of 8 months to 1.1 million, mostly due to bad rains, according to government figures.
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With nearly half Kenya's 47 counties stated to have a major shortage of rain, humanitarian firms are alerting of increased cravings in the months ahead.
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"Only light rainfall is forecast through June ... and this is not expected to relieve drought in affected areas of Kenya and Somalia," stated 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 expected, which will lower poor families' access to food."
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In Kitui's Kyuso location, the indications are already evident.
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Rivers, [water pans](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/MNELF:US) and dams are drying up as a result of the prolonged drought.
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Villagers grumble of travelling longer distances - sometimes more than 10 km (6 miles) with their donkeys loaded with empty jerry cans looking for water.
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Small-scale farmers, most of whom depend on rain-fed agriculture, go over plans to sell their goats to make ends fulfill if the harvest is poor.
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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 little but growing number are shedding their concern of reliance on the weather - and purchasing watering systems powered by Zaynagro's cotton seed [biodiesel](https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/felda-global-buys-missions-kuantan-port-plant-for-11-5-million-9053) through a pay-as-you-go scheme introduced more than 3 years back.
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[Neighbouring farmers](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) band together to buy the watering system - that includes the biodiesel pump, 12 metres of pipelines and 10 litres of biodiesel - at costs 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 month-to-month instalments up until the overall is settled. They purchase the biodiesel to run the pumps from Zaynagro at 80 shillings a litre.
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[Farmer Alex](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) Babu Kitheka, 39, stated the biodiesel pump enabled him to irrigate a larger 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 three months. With the [biodiesel](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1463471/000165495419013063/R31.htm) pump, I can make 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 point to the plan as a major advantage in helping [enhance](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) their output.
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"The instalment scheme is good. Most farmers don't have the money and can not easily get a loan to purchase a pump like this," said Maurice Kitheka Munyoki, 41, as he stood next to his blue biodiesel pump.
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"Having a plan like this assists us a lot. Our yields are excellent which implies we can pay off the cost of the pump slowly in little amounts, and have money left over to pay the school charges."
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Zaynagro's initiative is still in its early phases, with few farmers having actually repaid the complete expense of the pumps.
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But such [biofuel](https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-178469/company/) plans are appealing due to the fact that they produce a circular economy by turning waste to [biofuel](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0cqd_rb) for earnings, stated Sanjoy Sanyal, senior partner for Clean Energy Finance at the World Resources Institute.
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The simpleness of the design - easy-to-use, robust technology, [guaranteed supply](https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-178469/company/) of biodiesel combined with a pay-as-you-go plan - might assist energize rural Africa, he stated.
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"There is a mosaic of sustainable energy options on the planet. The crucial concern is evaluating concepts and techniques in a collective fashion," said Sanyal.
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"Other cotton ginning factories in the area need to try and gain from this experiment. Financial organizations ought to start try out 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 by Claire Cozens. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, home rights and environment change. Visit http://[news.trust](https://www.businessnews.com.au/Company/Mission-NewEnergy).org)
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