Cane farmers get boost as Briquettes project launched

The Government has unveiled a green energy project to promote utilisation of sugarcane by-products in Western Kenya.

Besides environmental conservation, the initiative hopes to promote business models that stimulate growth of rural enterprises. The venture, dubbed Green Economy Partnership (GEP) Project, was launched at Ligodho in Ndhiwa Constituency and is being implemented by the Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI).

The project will involve use of sugarcane bagasse in production of carbonised biomass briquettes, which can be used instead of charcoal for cooking. The products would be given out free of charge.

Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources Judy Wakhungu who launched the programme, said the pilot stage will involve use of sugarcane bagasse from local sugar factories. She said they were testing efficient methods of producing fuelwood energy from sugarcane bagasse. The CS said the project will help curb environmental pollution caused by the bagasse.

“There are more than 2.4 million tonnes of sugarcane bagasse generated annually from 11 sugar mills in Kenya. Commercial use of bagasse is limited with mills using about 60 per cent internally to generate heat while about 1 million tonnes is heaped and left to decay around the mills or burned in open fields under uncontrolled conditions,” said Wakhungu.

Maize or rice husks

Success of the project and the results will be used to develop and validate a business model to be replicated in other parts of the country. The Green Economy Partnership Project combines climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in off-grid sugarcane farming systems and aims at developing and implementing business models friendly to rural enterprises.

Principal Secretary, State Department of Natural Resources Margaret Mwakima said the Government was committed to developing and implementing various green economy policies to tackle environmental degradation and climate change. “The Government is also making every effort to promote infrastructure development, alleviate poverty and food insecurity while enhancing socio-economic growth and sustainable livelihoods for our people,” Mwakima said.

KEFRI Project Co-ordinator Peter Ogutu said the initiative will be carried out in other four sites in Kanyikela, Kanyamwa Kologi, South Kabuoch and North Kabuoch wards for a period of thirty months before it is handed over to the community.

The Ligodho site had already begun producing briquettes. “We have agreed with the management of Sukari Industry Ltd to be providing us with bagasse to enable us produce the briquettes. Apart from bagasse, we can also use maize or rice husks to make the commodity,” said Ogutu.