diff --git a/Cotton-Waste-Biofuel-Powers-Farmers-to-Eliminate-Drought-In-Kenya.md b/Cotton-Waste-Biofuel-Powers-Farmers-to-Eliminate-Drought-In-Kenya.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1eb4898 --- /dev/null +++ b/Cotton-Waste-Biofuel-Powers-Farmers-to-Eliminate-Drought-In-Kenya.md @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +
By Nita Bhalla
+
KITUI, Kenya, June 6 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kenyan farmer [Abel Mutie](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile) Mathoka believed it must be a joke when he was informed he might irrigate his drought-hit crops more inexpensively, easily and effectively using a pump fuelled by cotton waste.
+
"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 inspect the [watermelons](https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/shares/asx-mbt/mission-newenergy-limited/share-price) on his 10-acre (four-hectare) shared plot in Ituri town in Kenya's southeast Kitui county.
+
"But it works," he said, strolling over to a neighboring tree and plucking a big green pawpaw. "Irrigation with this biodiesel water pump has helped me get higher yields, particularly during drought periods."
+
Mathoka said his earnings had actually doubled in the two years he has been pumping water using biodiesel, which is both more efficient and 20 shillings ($0.20) per litre cheaper than regular diesel.
+
The [biodiesel](https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/felda-global-buys-missions-kuantan-port-plant-for-11-5-million-9053) he is using is not simply great news for him - it is also good news for the world.
+
Unlike the majority of biofuels, which are derived from crops such as maize, sugarcane, soybean, rapeseed and [jatropha](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159346/mission-newenergy-delivers-maiden-biodiesel-production-to-global-oil-major-24476.html), it is made from a byproduct of the cotton-making procedure.
+
That means that as well as being cleaner and cheaper than routine fuel, it is more sustainable than other biofuels because no extra land is required to produce it.
+
From Brazil to Indonesia, the rush to cultivate [biofuel](https://stocktwits.com/symbol/MNEL) crops has actually driven forest communities off their land and pressed farmers to change from crops-for-food to more rewarding crops-for-fuel - intensifying food shortages.
+
"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 Industries Ltd, the Kitui-based company producing the biodiesel.
+
"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 a few of their buses - and likewise to local farmers for irrigation."
+
More than 1,200 farmers in Kitui have actually up until now invested in biodiesel pumps for irrigation as part of an initiative introduced by Zaynagro in 2015, said Zavery.
+
DRY RIVER BEDS
+
Climate modification is taking a toll throughout east Africa and progressively unpredictable weather condition is becoming commonplace in nations such as Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopia, leading to lower rainfall.
+
The repeating droughts are damaging crops and pastures and are starving animals - [pressing millions](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) of people in the Horn of Africa to the brink of severe cravings.
+
The number of Kenyans in requirement of food aid in March rose by practically 70 percent over a period of 8 months to 1.1 million, mostly due to poor rains, according to government figures.
+
With almost half Kenya's 47 counties declared to have a major lack of rain, humanitarian agencies are alerting of increased hunger in the months ahead.
+
"Only light rains is anticipated through June ... and this is not expected to relieve drought in affected locations of Kenya and Somalia," said the Famine Early Warning Systems Network in its newest report.
+
"Well below-average crop production, poor livestock body conditions, and increased regional food prices are prepared for, which will decrease poor families' access to food."
+
In Kitui's Kyuso area, the indications are already apparent.
+
Rivers, [water pans](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1463471/000165495419013063/R31.htm) and dams are drying up as a result of the extended drought.
+
Villagers experience travelling longer ranges - in some cases more than 10 km (6 miles) with their [donkeys](https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-178469/company/) loaded with empty jerry cans searching for water.
+
[Small-scale](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0cqd_rb) farmers, many of whom depend on rain-fed agriculture, discuss plans to sell their goats to make ends fulfill if the harvest is bad.
+
BATTLING DROUGHT WITH [BIODIESEL](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd)
+
But not all Kitui's farmers are worried.
+
A little but growing number are shedding their concern of reliance on the [weather condition](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile) - and investing in irrigation systems powered by Zaynagro's cotton seed biodiesel through a pay-as-you-go plan launched more than 3 years back.
+
Neighbouring farmers unite to invest in the [watering](https://www.businessnews.com.au/Company/Mission-NewEnergy) system - that includes the biodiesel pump, 12 metres of pipelines and 10 litres of biodiesel - at expenses beginning from 32,000 shillings, depending upon the size of the pump.
+
The farmers make a preliminary payment, then [pay interest-free](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0cqd_rb) regular monthly instalments until the overall is paid off. They purchase the [biodiesel](https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-178469/company/) to run the pumps from Zaynagro at 80 shillings a litre.
+
Farmer Alex Babu Kitheka, 39, said the [biodiesel](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) pump enabled him to irrigate a bigger portion of his [one-acre](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159346/mission-newenergy-delivers-maiden-biodiesel-production-to-global-oil-major-24476.html) plot, where he grows a variety of veggies consisting of maize, tomatoes, spinach and sweet potatoes.
+
"With a diesel pump, maize yields were lower and I would get 15,000 shillings in three months. With the biodiesel pump, I can earn 45,000 shillings," said Alex Babu Kitheka, standing near his plot in Ilangilo town, 40 km (25 miles) from Kitui town.
+
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
+
Other farmers point to the scheme as a major benefit in helping enhance their output.
+
"The instalment plan is great. Most farmers do not have the cash and can not easily get a loan to purchase a pump like this," stated Maurice Kitheka Munyoki, 41, as he stood beside his blue [biodiesel](https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-178469/company/) pump.
+
"Having a plan like this assists us a lot. Our yields are excellent which suggests we can settle the expense of the pump gradually in percentages, and have money left over to pay the school costs."
+
Zaynagro's effort is still in its early phases, with few [farmers](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0cqd_rb) having actually paid back the full cost of the pumps.
+
But such [biofuel](https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/shares/asx-mbt/mission-newenergy-limited/share-price) plans are promising since they develop a circular economy by turning waste to [biofuel](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile) for earnings, said Sanjoy Sanyal, senior partner for Clean Energy Finance at the World Resources Institute.
+
The of the model - user friendly, robust technology, assured supply of biodiesel integrated with a pay-as-you-go plan - could help electrify rural Africa, he stated.
+
"There is a mosaic of sustainable energy alternatives on the planet. The key issue is evaluating concepts and approaches in a collective style," stated Sanyal.
+
"Other cotton ginning factories in the area need to attempt and gain from this experiment. Financial institutions must start explore loans to groups of farmers. International donors and financiers need to support experimentation."
+
($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, ladies's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, [residential](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159352/mission-newenergy-debt-free-focused-on-biofuel-joint-venture-60797.html) or commercial property rights and climate modification. Visit http://news.trust.org)
\ No newline at end of file