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<br>By Nita Bhalla<br> |
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<br>KITUI, Kenya, June 6 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kenyan farmer Abel Mutie Mathoka believed it needs to be a joke when he was informed he could water his drought-hit crops more inexpensively, cleanly and efficiently using a [pump sustained](https://stocktwits.com/symbol/MNEL) by cotton waste.<br> |
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<br>"Who could think it's possible to make a fuel better than diesel from cotton seeds? I didn't!" laughed Mathoka, crouching down to examine the watermelons on his 10-acre (four-hectare) shared plot in Ituri town in Kenya's southeast Kitui county.<br> |
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<br>"But it works," he stated, strolling over to a nearby tree and plucking a large green pawpaw. "Irrigation with this biodiesel water pump has helped me get greater yields, specifically throughout dry spell durations."<br> |
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<br>[Mathoka](https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/ipos/overview?dealId=804419-65608) said his incomes had actually doubled in the 2 years he has been pumping water utilizing biodiesel, which is both more effective and 20 shillings ($0.20) per litre more affordable than regular diesel.<br> |
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<br>The [biodiesel](https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/felda-global-buys-missions-kuantan-port-plant-for-11-5-million-9053) he is using is not just good news for him - it is also great news for the planet.<br> |
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<br>Unlike a lot of biofuels, which are [originated](https://stocktwits.com/symbol/MNEL) from crops such as maize, sugarcane, soybean, rapeseed and [jatropha](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile), it is made from a byproduct of the cotton-making procedure.<br> |
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<br>That indicates that as well as being cleaner and more affordable than regular fuel, it is more sustainable than other biofuels because no extra land is required to produce it.<br> |
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<br>From Brazil to Indonesia, the rush to [cultivate](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1463471/000165495419013063/R31.htm) [biofuel](https://www.zoominfo.com/c/mission-newenergy/346542889) crops has driven forest [neighborhoods](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1463471/000165495419013063/R31.htm) off their land and pressed farmers to switch from crops-for-food to more rewarding crops-for-fuel - intensifying food lacks.<br> |
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<br>"Our biodiesel originates from crushing cotton seeds left over as waste after ginning - the procedure of separating the seeds from raw cotton," said Taher Zavery, handling director of Zaynagro Industries Ltd, the Kitui-based business producing the [biodiesel](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159346/mission-newenergy-delivers-maiden-biodiesel-production-to-global-oil-major-24476.html).<br> |
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<br>"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 irrigation."<br> |
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<br>More than 1,200 farmers in Kitui have actually so far purchased [biodiesel](https://www.zonebourse.com/cours/action/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-8557641/) pumps for irrigation as part of an effort released by Zaynagro in 2015, said Zavery.<br> |
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<br>DRY RIVER BEDS<br> |
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<br>Climate modification is taking a toll throughout east Africa and increasingly erratic weather is ending up being commonplace in countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopia, resulting in lower rains.<br> |
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<br>The recurring dry spells are [destroying crops](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) and pastures and are starving animals - pressing [millions](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1463471/000165495419013063/R31.htm) of people in the Horn of Africa to the verge of severe appetite.<br> |
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<br>The number of Kenyans in requirement of food help in March rose by almost 70 percent over a period of 8 months to 1.1 million, largely due to bad rains, according to government figures.<br> |
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<br>With nearly half Kenya's 47 counties declared to have a major scarcity of rain, humanitarian firms are cautioning of increased cravings in the months ahead.<br> |
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<br>"Only light rains is anticipated through June ... and this is not expected to alleviate dry spell in affected locations of Kenya and Somalia," said the Famine Early Warning Systems [Network](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/MNELF:US) in its latest report.<br> |
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<br>"Well below-average crop production, bad animals body conditions, and increased local food prices are expected, which will decrease poor families' access to food."<br> |
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<br>In Kitui's Kyuso area, the indications are already apparent.<br> |
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<br>Rivers, water pans and dams are drying up as a result of the prolonged dry spell.<br> |
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<br>Villagers grumble of trekking longer ranges - in some cases more than 10 km (6 miles) with their [donkeys](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) loaded with empty jerry cans searching for water.<br> |
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<br>Small-scale farmers, the majority of whom are reliant on rain-fed agriculture, discuss plans to sell their goats to make ends satisfy if the harvest is bad.<br> |
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<br>[BATTLING DROUGHT](https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/ipos/overview?dealId=804419-65608) WITH BIODIESEL<br> |
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<br>But not all Kitui's farmers are worried.<br> |
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<br>A small however growing number are shedding their concern of reliance on the weather condition - and purchasing watering systems powered by Zaynagro's cotton seed biodiesel through a pay-as-you-go scheme released more than 3 years ago.<br> |
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<br>Neighbouring farmers unite to purchase the irrigation system - which consists of the [biodiesel](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) pump, 12 metres of pipelines and 10 litres of biodiesel - at expenses beginning with 32,000 shillings, depending upon the size of the pump.<br> |
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<br>The [farmers](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile) make an initial payment, then pay interest-free regular monthly instalments until the total is settled. They purchase the [biodiesel](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile) to run the pumps from Zaynagro at 80 shillings a litre.<br> |
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<br>Farmer Alex Babu Kitheka, 39, stated the biodiesel pump allowed him to irrigate a bigger part of his one-acre plot, where he grows a variety of veggies including maize, tomatoes, spinach and sweet potatoes.<br> |
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<br>"With a diesel pump, maize yields were lower and I would get 15,000 shillings in 3 months. With the biodiesel pump, I can make 45,000 shillings," stated Alex Babu Kitheka, standing near his plot in Ilangilo town, 40 km (25 miles) from Kitui town.<br> |
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<br>CIRCULAR ECONOMY<br> |
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<br>Other farmers point to the scheme as a significant benefit in helping improve their output.<br> |
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<br>"The instalment scheme is excellent. Most farmers do not have the cash and can not easily get a loan to buy a pump like this," stated Maurice Kitheka Munyoki, 41, as he stood next to his blue biodiesel pump.<br> |
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<br>"Having a plan like this helps us a lot. Our yields are excellent which implies we can pay off the expense of the pump slowly in little quantities, and have money left over to pay the school charges."<br> |
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<br>Zaynagro's initiative is still in its early stages, with few farmers having paid back the full expense of the pumps.<br> |
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<br>But such [biofuel](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) plans are appealing because they create a circular economy by turning waste to [biofuel](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0cqd_rb) for profit, said Sanjoy Sanyal, senior partner for Clean Energy Finance at the World Resources Institute.<br> |
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<br>The simplicity of the model - easy-to-use, robust innovation, assured supply of biodiesel integrated with a [pay-as-you-go scheme](https://stocktwits.com/symbol/MNEL) - might help electrify rural Africa, he said.<br> |
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<br>"There is a mosaic of sustainable energy alternatives on the planet. The crucial concern is evaluating ideas and methods in a collaborative fashion," said Sanyal.<br> |
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<br>"Other cotton ginning factories in the region should attempt and find out from this experiment. Financial organizations must begin explore loans to groups of farmers. International donors and financiers need to support experimentation."<br> |
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<br>($1 = 101.3000 Kenyan shillings) (Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, Editing by . Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, residential or commercial property rights and climate modification. Visit http://news.trust.org)<br> |
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