Don’t tax biogas devices, State told

By Standard REPORTER

Farmers have urged the Government to waive import duty imposed on biogas appliances to promote use of renewable energy and conserve the environment.

The farmers say reduction of forest cover and limited environmental education threatens sustainable agriculture. Kenya National Farmers Federation (Kenaff) Chief Executive Officer John Mutunga asked the Government to address climate change concerns and develop effective preparedness and early warning systems like in the case of floods.

He said farmers want more commitment by Government to promote renewable energy as a step towards sustainable agriculture.

“Farmers have concerns on poor preservation and protection of river banks, limited environmental education, destruction of water sheds and catchment areas, and reduction of pasture land due to invasion by noxious weeds in pasture land and along river banks,” Dr Mutunga said in Nairobi yesterday.

He said farmers want the Government to remove import duty on biogas appliance to encourage more uptake, saying over the last four years, more than 11,000 farmers have adopted the use of green energy from biogas plants.