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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 should be a joke when he was informed he could water his drought-hit crops more cheaply, easily and efficiently using a pump fuelled by cotton waste.<br> |
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<br>"Who could think it's possible to make a fuel much better than diesel from cotton seeds? I didn't!" chuckled Mathoka, bending down to examine the watermelons on his 10-acre (four-hectare) [shared plot](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) in Ituri village in [Kenya's southeast](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) Kitui county.<br> |
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<br>"But it works," he stated, walking over to a nearby tree and plucking a big green pawpaw. "Irrigation with this [biodiesel](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/mission-newenergy) water pump has assisted me get greater yields, especially during dry spell durations."<br> |
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<br>Mathoka stated his profits had doubled in the 2 years he has actually been [pumping water](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159352/mission-newenergy-debt-free-focused-on-biofuel-joint-venture-60797.html) 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 he is using is not just good news for him - it is likewise good news for the world.<br> |
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<br>Unlike most biofuels, which are obtained from crops such as maize, sugarcane, soybean, rapeseed and [jatropha curcas](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0cqd_rb), it is made from a by-product of the cotton-making process.<br> |
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<br>That indicates that in addition to being cleaner and less expensive than regular fuel, it is more sustainable than other biofuels because no additional land is needed to produce it.<br> |
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<br>From Brazil to Indonesia, the rush to cultivate [biofuel](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159352/mission-newenergy-debt-free-focused-on-biofuel-joint-venture-60797.html) crops has driven forest neighborhoods off their land and pressed farmers to switch from crops-for-food to more successful crops-for-fuel - exacerbating food scarcities.<br> |
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<br>"Our biodiesel originates from crushing 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 business producing the [biodiesel](https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/shares/asx-mbt/mission-newenergy-limited/share-price).<br> |
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<br>"We began producing and using it to power our cotton ginning factory in 2011. With increased production, we now use it for our trucks, offer it to the United Nations to run a few of their buses - and also to regional farmers for irrigation."<br> |
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<br>More than 1,200 farmers in Kitui have actually so far purchased biodiesel pumps for watering as part of an initiative introduced by Zaynagro in 2015, stated Zavery.<br> |
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<br>DRY RIVER BEDS<br> |
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<br>Climate change is taking a toll across east Africa and progressively erratic weather condition is becoming commonplace in [countries](https://www.zonebourse.com/cours/action/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-8557641/) such as Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopia, resulting in lower rains.<br> |
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<br>The recurring dry spells are destroying crops and pastures and are starving animals [- pushing](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1463471/000165495419013063/R31.htm) millions of people in the Horn of Africa to the edge of severe cravings.<br> |
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<br>The number of Kenyans in need of food aid in March surged by practically 70 percent over a duration of eight months to 1.1 million, mostly due to poor rains, according to government figures.<br> |
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<br>With nearly half Kenya's 47 counties stated to have a major scarcity of rain, humanitarian firms are cautioning of increased hunger in the months ahead.<br> |
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<br>"Only light rains is forecast through June ... and this is not anticipated to relieve drought in impacted areas of Kenya and Somalia," stated the Famine Early [Warning Systems](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159352/mission-newenergy-debt-free-focused-on-biofuel-joint-venture-60797.html) Network in its newest report.<br> |
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<br>"Well below-average crop production, poor animals body conditions, and increased local food costs are prepared for, which will minimize poor households' access to food."<br> |
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<br>In Kitui's Kyuso area, the signs are already evident.<br> |
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<br>Rivers, [water pans](https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-178469/company/) and dams are drying up as a result of the extended dry spell.<br> |
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<br>Villagers experience trekking longer ranges - in some cases more than 10 km (6 miles) with their donkeys loaded with empty jerry cans looking for water.<br> |
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<br>Small-scale farmers, most of whom depend on rain-fed farming, go over plans to offer their goats to make ends satisfy if the harvest is poor.<br> |
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<br>BATTLING DROUGHT WITH BIODIESEL<br> |
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<br>But not all Kitui's farmers are stressed.<br> |
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<br>A little but growing number are shedding their concern of reliance on the weather condition - and investing in irrigation systems powered by Zaynagro's cotton seed [biodiesel](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159352/mission-newenergy-debt-free-focused-on-biofuel-joint-venture-60797.html) through a pay-as-you-go scheme launched more than 3 years ago.<br> |
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<br>Neighbouring farmers band together to invest in the irrigation system - which consists of the biodiesel pump, 12 metres of [pipelines](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) and 10 litres of [biodiesel](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) - at costs starting from 32,000 shillings, depending on the size of the pump.<br> |
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<br>The farmers make a preliminary payment, then pay interest-free month-to-month instalments up until the total is paid off. They purchase the biodiesel to run the pumps from Zaynagro at 80 shillings a litre.<br> |
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<br>Farmer Alex Babu Kitheka, 39, said the [biodiesel](https://www.businessnews.com.au/Company/Mission-NewEnergy) pump enabled him to water a bigger part of his one-acre plot, where he grows a range 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 earn 45,000 shillings," said 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 major benefit in helping [enhance](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/MNELF:US) their output.<br> |
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<br>"The instalment scheme is great. Most farmers don't have the cash and can not quickly get a loan to buy a pump like this," stated Maurice Kitheka Munyoki, 41, as he stood next to his blue [biodiesel](https://www.businessnews.com.au/Company/Mission-NewEnergy) pump.<br> |
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<br>"Having a plan like this helps us a lot. Our yields are great which suggests we can settle the cost of the pump gradually in little amounts, and have cash left over to pay the school fees."<br> |
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<br>Zaynagro's initiative is still in its early phases, with couple of farmers having actually paid back the full cost of the pumps.<br> |
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<br>But such [biofuel](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) schemes are promising since they develop a circular economy by turning waste to [biofuel](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) for revenue, said Sanjoy Sanyal, senior partner for Clean Energy Finance at the World Resources Institute.<br> |
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<br>The simpleness of the design - easy-to-use, robust technology, guaranteed supply of biodiesel combined with a pay-as-you-go [scheme -](https://www.businessnews.com.au/Company/Mission-NewEnergy) might help amaze rural Africa, he stated.<br> |
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<br>"There is a mosaic of sustainable energy alternatives on the planet. The crucial concern is checking ideas and approaches in a collective style," said Sanyal.<br> |
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<br>"Other cotton ginning factories in the region need to try and gain from this experiment. Banks should start try out loans to groups of farmers. International donors and financiers require to support experimentation."<br> |
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<br>($1 = 101.3000 Kenyan shillings) (Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, Editing by Claire Cozens. Please credit the [Thomson Reuters](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/MNELF:US) Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights and climate modification. Visit http://news.trust.org)<br> |
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