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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 told he might water his drought-hit crops more cheaply, cleanly and [efficiently utilizing](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) a pump fuelled by cotton waste.<br> |
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<br>"Who could believe it's possible to make a fuel much better than diesel from cotton seeds? I didn't!" chuckled Mathoka, crouching down to inspect 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 said, walking over to a close-by tree and plucking a big [green pawpaw](https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/ipos/overview?dealId=804419-65608). "Irrigation with this [biodiesel](https://www.zoominfo.com/c/mission-newenergy/346542889) water pump has actually assisted me get higher yields, especially throughout dry spell periods."<br> |
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<br>Mathoka stated his incomes had actually doubled in the 2 years he has actually been pumping water utilizing biodiesel, which is both more efficient and 20 shillings ($0.20) per litre cheaper than regular diesel.<br> |
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<br>The [biodiesel](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) he is utilizing is not just good news for him - it is also excellent news for the world.<br> |
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<br>Unlike most biofuels, which are originated from crops such as maize, sugarcane, soybean, rapeseed and [jatropha curcas](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/mission-newenergy), it is made from a by-product of the cotton-making process.<br> |
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<br>That implies that as well as being cleaner and more affordable than regular fuel, it is more [sustainable](https://forest500.org/rankings/companies/mission-newenergy-limited) 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://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) crops has actually driven forest [communities](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0cqd_rb) off their land and pressed farmers to change from crops-for-food to more profitable crops-for-fuel - worsening food scarcities.<br> |
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<br>"Our biodiesel originates from squashing cotton seeds left over as waste after ginning - the process of separating the seeds from raw cotton," said Taher Zavery, handling director of Zaynagro Industries Ltd, the Kitui-based company producing the [biodiesel](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048).<br> |
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<br>"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 regional farmers for irrigation."<br> |
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<br>More than 1,200 farmers in Kitui have so far invested in [biodiesel](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile) pumps for watering as part of an effort launched 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 across [east Africa](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/MNELF:US) and progressively unpredictable [weather](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) is becoming commonplace in [nations](https://www.zonebourse.com/cours/action/MISSION-NEWENERGY-LIMITED-8557641/) such as Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopia, leading to lower rains.<br> |
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<br>The recurring dry spells are destroying crops and pastures and are starving animals - pressing countless people in the Horn of Africa to the brink of extreme hunger.<br> |
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<br>The variety of Kenyans in requirement of food aid in March surged by practically 70 percent over a period of 8 months to 1.1 million, mostly due to poor rains, according to government figures.<br> |
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<br>With almost half Kenya's 47 counties declared to have a severe scarcity of rain, humanitarian firms are warning of [increased cravings](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159346/mission-newenergy-delivers-maiden-biodiesel-production-to-global-oil-major-24476.html) in the months ahead.<br> |
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<br>"Only light rainfall is anticipated through June ... and this is not expected to minimize dry spell in impacted locations of Kenya and Somalia," stated the Famine Early Warning Systems Network in its most current report.<br> |
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<br>"Well below-average crop production, bad animals body conditions, and increased regional food costs are anticipated, which will lower bad families' access to food."<br> |
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<br>In Kitui's Kyuso location, the signs are currently obvious.<br> |
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<br>Rivers, water pans and dams are drying up as an outcome of the extended drought.<br> |
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<br>Villagers grumble of travelling longer ranges - in some cases more than 10 km (6 miles) with their donkeys laden 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 farming, discuss strategies to offer their goats to make ends satisfy if the harvest is bad.<br> |
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<br>BATTLING DROUGHT WITH [BIODIESEL](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048)<br> |
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<br>But not all Kitui's farmers are worried.<br> |
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<br>A little however growing number are shedding their concern of dependence 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 plan released more than 3 years earlier.<br> |
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<br>Neighbouring farmers unite to invest in the watering system - which includes the biodiesel pump, 12 metres of pipes and 10 litres of biodiesel - at costs starting from 32,000 shillings, depending on the size of the pump.<br> |
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<br>The farmers make an initial payment, then pay interest-free monthly instalments up until the overall is settled. 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, stated the biodiesel pump allowed him to irrigate a larger portion of his one-acre plot, where he grows a range of veggies consisting of 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 three months. With the biodiesel pump, I can make 45,000 shillings," stated Alex Babu Kitheka, standing near his plot in Ilangilo village, 40 km (25 miles) from Kitui town.<br> |
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<br>CIRCULAR ECONOMY<br> |
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<br>Other farmers indicate the plan as a significant in assisting enhance their output.<br> |
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<br>"The instalment plan is excellent. Most farmers don't have the money 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.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) pump.<br> |
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<br>"Having a plan like this helps us a lot. Our yields are great which indicates we can settle the expense of the pump gradually in little amounts, and have cash left over to pay the school costs."<br> |
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<br>Zaynagro's effort is still in its early phases, with couple of farmers having paid back the complete expense of the pumps.<br> |
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<br>But such [biofuel](https://www.zoominfo.com/c/mission-newenergy/346542889) schemes are promising since they create a circular economy by turning waste to [biofuel](https://stocktwits.com/symbol/MNEL) for earnings, said Sanjoy Sanyal, senior associate for Clean Energy Finance at the World Resources Institute.<br> |
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<br>The simpleness of the design - user friendly, robust innovation, ensured supply of biodiesel combined with a pay-as-you-go scheme - could help [electrify rural](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159352/mission-newenergy-debt-free-focused-on-biofuel-joint-venture-60797.html) Africa, he said.<br> |
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<br>"There is a mosaic of sustainable energy choices on the planet. The key concern is testing concepts and approaches in a collective style," said Sanyal.<br> |
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<br>"Other cotton ginning factories in the region need to attempt and discover from this experiment. Financial institutions should start try out loans to groups of farmers. International donors and investors 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 Foundation, the charitable arm of [Thomson](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile) Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, females's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, home rights and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org)<br> |
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