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..08302e9 --- /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](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) Foundation) - Kenyan farmer Abel Mutie Mathoka thought it needs to be a joke when he was told he might water his drought-hit crops more inexpensively, easily and efficiently utilizing 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!" chuckled Mathoka, crouching down to inspect the [watermelons](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159346/mission-newenergy-delivers-maiden-biodiesel-production-to-global-oil-major-24476.html) 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, 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, specifically throughout drought periods."
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Mathoka stated his profits had doubled in the 2 years he has actually been pumping water utilizing biodiesel, 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 utilizing is not just excellent news for him - it is likewise excellent news for the planet.
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Unlike a lot of biofuels, which are originated from crops such as maize, sugarcane, soybean, rapeseed and [jatropha](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86), it is made from a byproduct of the cotton-making procedure.
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That indicates that as well as being cleaner and more affordable than routine 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 crops has actually driven forest neighborhoods off their land and pressed farmers to change from crops-for-food to more lucrative crops-for-fuel - exacerbating food lacks.
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"Our [biodiesel](https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/ipos/overview?dealId=804419-65608) originates from squashing cotton seeds left over as waste after ginning - the process of separating the seeds from raw cotton," stated Taher Zavery, managing [director](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) of Zaynagro Industries Ltd, the Kitui-based company producing the biodiesel.
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"We started 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 a few of their buses - and likewise to local farmers for watering."
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More than 1,200 farmers in Kitui have so far purchased biodiesel pumps for irrigation as part of an effort introduced by Zaynagro in 2015, said Zavery.
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DRY RIVER BEDS
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Climate modification is taking a toll throughout east Africa and increasingly erratic weather condition is ending up being commonplace in countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopia, resulting in lower rainfall.
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The recurring droughts are destroying crops and [pastures](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) and are starving animals - [pushing millions](https://www.zonebourse.com/cours/action/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-8557641/) of people in the Horn of Africa to the verge of extreme appetite.
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The number of Kenyans in need of [food aid](https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/shares/asx-mbt/mission-newenergy-limited/share-price) in March surged by nearly 70 percent over a period of eight months to 1.1 million, mainly due to bad rains, according to federal government figures.
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With practically half Kenya's 47 counties stated to have a major scarcity of rain, humanitarian firms are alerting of increased cravings in the months ahead.
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"Only light rains is anticipated through June ... and this is not anticipated to relieve 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 animals body conditions, and increased regional food rates are expected, which will lower poor families' access to food."
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In Kitui's Kyuso area, the signs are already evident.
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Rivers, water pans and dams are drying up as an outcome of the prolonged dry spell.
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Villagers grumble of travelling longer distances - in some cases more than 10 km (6 miles) with their donkeys loaded with empty jerry cans looking for water.
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Small-scale farmers, many of whom depend on rain-fed agriculture, discuss strategies to sell their goats to make ends satisfy if the harvest is poor.
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BATTLING DROUGHT WITH [BIODIESEL](https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-178469/company/)
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But not all Kitui's farmers are worried.
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A little but growing number are shedding their problem of dependence on the [weather -](https://www.pinterest.com.au/missionnewenergy/) and purchasing irrigation 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 plan released more than three years back.
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Neighbouring farmers unite to purchase the [irrigation](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) system - which includes the biodiesel pump, 12 metres of pipelines and 10 litres of biodiesel - at costs beginning with 32,000 shillings, depending upon the size of the pump.
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The farmers make a preliminary payment, then pay interest-free regular monthly instalments till the overall is settled. They purchase the biodiesel to run the pumps from Zaynagro at 80 [shillings](https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/shares/asx-mbt/mission-newenergy-limited/share-price) a litre.
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Farmer Alex Babu Kitheka, 39, stated the [biodiesel](https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/felda-global-buys-missions-kuantan-port-plant-for-11-5-million-9053) pump him to irrigate a larger portion of his one-acre plot, where he grows a variety of veggies 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](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) 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 indicate the plan as a significant benefit in [helping improve](https://www.pinterest.com.au/missionnewenergy/) their output.
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"The instalment plan is good. Most farmers don't have the money and can not easily get a loan to buy a pump like this," stated Maurice Kitheka Munyoki, 41, as he stood beside his blue biodiesel pump.
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"Having a plan like this assists us a lot. Our yields are great which means we can settle the expense of the pump gradually in little amounts, and have cash left over to pay the school costs."
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Zaynagro's effort is still in its early stages, with few [farmers](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) having repaid the full expense of the pumps.
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But such [biofuel](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0cqd_rb) plans are promising because they develop a circular economy by turning waste to [biofuel](https://stocktwits.com/symbol/MNEL) for revenue, said Sanjoy Sanyal, senior partner for Clean Energy Finance at the World Resources Institute.
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The simpleness of the design - user friendly, robust innovation, assured supply of [biodiesel](https://www.pinterest.com.au/missionnewenergy/) integrated with a pay-as-you-go scheme - might assist amaze rural Africa, he said.
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"There is a mosaic of sustainable energy options on the planet. The crucial problem is evaluating ideas and approaches in a collective fashion," said Sanyal.
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"Other cotton ginning factories in the area should try and find out from this experiment. Financial institutions should begin 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](https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/ipos/overview?dealId=804419-65608) and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, residential or commercial property rights and climate modification. Visit http://news.trust.org)
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