FUEL BRIQUETTES

Introduction

The quality of life for both the rural and urban population across East Africa, like others in the developing world, is difficult by high cost of fuel wood and oil based products (paraffin and gas) used in cooking. For this majority the problem of obtaining fuel wood should come as a secondary priority to obtaining food. The high cost is as a result of unprecedented destruction of forests and bushes that were the traditional source of wood fuel and charcoal. However fuel briquettes-made by compacting agricultural and commercial waste materials such as dried leaves, sugar bargasse, sawdust, scrap paper, and even charcoal dust into a small cake(briquettes) that can be used for cooking –is being considered as a viable alternative.

The potential of fuel briquettes

The quality of life and the choice of fuel for cooking in the both rural and urban regions across East Africa, like elsewhere in the developing world, is affected by the high cost of fuel wood, paraffin and gas. The high cost of fuel is as a result of unprecedented destruction of forests and bushes that were the traditional source of wood fuel and charcoal. A viable alternative fuel for cooking that is increasingly popular is fuel briquettes made by compacting agricultural and commercial residues such as dried leaves, sugar bargasse , sawdust, scrap paper, and even charcoal dust into a small cake or briquettes. The briquettes can be produced locally using simple hand operated tools.

Available estimates indicate that fuel briquettes can reduce the demand for firewood by more than 200,000 kilograms per year, helping to degrease deforestation (McDoughal Owen, 2001.’A Unique approach to conservation; Chemical society).Fuel briquettes have been successfully utilized in many parts of the world including Malawi, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Peru, Mali, and Kenya. However, there is great need to increase awareness on the value of briquettes as an alternative fuel in East Africa as a means of reducing local dependence on fuel wood and as a tool for teaching the community about forest conservation.

According to the World Bank and the Paris based SEED organization, 1200 grams of wood are burned per person per day in the typical cooking situation in third world countries using  the three stone stove. This is equivalent to using 400 kilogram of wood each year to satisfy the energy needs of one person. In contrast, a typical person consumes only 140 kilograms worth of fuel briquettes made of agricultural and commercial residues, in one year. Therefore, using fuel briquettes dramatically reduces the strain on forest resources.

Usage of briquettes

Briquettes can be used in almost every application where firewood and charcoal is traditionally used, even in a typical three-stone stove. They are most applicable in areas where access to firewood is limited, such as the arid lands or in densely populated areas. In these areas, fuel briquettes can compete favorably with traditional solid fuel (firewood, charcoal, and cow dung). In northern Kenya and in the country’s urban centres, the price difference is already in favor of fuel briquettes. In Mbale, Uganda, the Uganda United Woman’s Association (UUWA) is making fuel briquettes as part of their income generating strategy. The woman collect residues such as leaves, scrap paper, charcoal dust and sawdust and use a press to make fuel briquettes, which they bring to the market to sell alongside firewood and charcoal. Since traditional fuel sources are becoming more expensive in Mbale due to deforestation and increased demand, the UUWA is able to make a reasonable profit. The income generated from the sale of briquettes is either divided among the women or invested in other income generating activities. The UUWA project demonstrates that production and marketing of fuel briquettes using agricultural and commercial residues can provide a sustainable alternative to fuel wood, helping to reduce deforestation and contribute to protection of vital natural resources for future generations. In Kenya briquette business is becoming popular particularly in the arid lands and other regions adversely affected by deforestation.

Briquettes as a means of protecting Forest

Forests play a vital role in stabilization of soils and ground water, thereby sustaining agricultural activity. Forests also play a crucial role in protection of water catchments an in climate moderation by absorbing greenhouse gases. They also contribute immensely to biological diversity and are a major habitat for wildlife. In the developing world, forests also provide valuable raw materials such as timber and fuel wood.

In Kakamega, Western Kenya for example, the use of briquettes has added significance in Kakamega forest. The forest, which is situated 418 kilometres west of Nairobi, is the only tropical rainforest in Kenya and the source of four rivers. To arrest the high rate of deforestation that endangers the rainforest, the Kakamega Environmental Education Programme (KEEP) is teaching the local people how to make charcoal briquettes as a means of arresting dependency on the rainforest. KEEP conducts formal classes during the weekends at its resource centre at Isecheno. The classes help the community understand briquette technology in an established educational setting, giving them the knowledge required to produce and ultimately use this new technology.

Community members can collect raw materials such as dried leaves from their compound or sawdust from splitting of timber and bring them to the KEEP resource centre to produce briquettes using the organization’s briquette press. In additional, KEEP trains school communities in the region as well as community groups visiting the organization to learn about forest conservation.

KEEP also distributes information packets to supplement these workshops/training sessions .KEEP members have been able to produce over 1000 briquettes per day , and sell them at US$ 0.2 per sachet containing three briquettes .They  market  the briquettes by visiting schools, conducting field demonstrations and through the direct demonstration site, which is located at their Resource centre.

Ms Consolata Musanga joined the KEEP in 2008 and was among those trained on making charcoal briquettes. She used to collect firewood from Kakamega forest for cooking or buy charcoal. Since the forest is a protected reserve, she would sometimes get arrested. The forest is a protected reserve, she would sometimes get arrested. The forest has a large snake had never bitten Ms Musunga. She feared that if she continued fetching wood from the forest, someday this would happen. She now produces fuel briquettes and sells them at US$ 0.2 for a batch of three pieces. Using briquettes has changed her family’s cooking style. Meals are cooked faster and her house is more habitable since there is less smoke. She also saves close to three dollars per week, which she would have used to purchase charcoal, and saves time that she would otherwise have spent in the forest searching for fuel wood. Briquette technology has helped Ms Musunga to improve her perception of different types of residues, which her family now views it as important since they can be recycled into briquettes.

Making sugarcane Bagasse Briquettes

1. Size reduction: The sugarcane is chopped, rolled through sequencing machine or hammered against a hard base to remove the moisture content.
2. Drying: The bagasse is dried in the hot sun for two to three days or forced through heated air in a large rotating drum to remove any remaining moisture.
3. Carbonisation: The dried bagasse is combusted under limited oxygen conditions in a buried pit or trench until it carbonises into charcoal.
4. Preparation for feedback: The carbonised bagasses are mixed with a binder.
5. Compaction and extrusion: The bagasse and the binder are passed through a machine or manually operated extruder to form rolls of charcoal.
6. Drying the rolls: The rolls are dried for between one to three days, causing them to break into chunks.
7. Packaging and marketing: The packaged briquettes of different sizes and weight are sold at retail outlets at a price of Kenya shillings 30(US$0.40). The product is sold under the trade name cane coal.

Advantages and challenges of producing and using briquettes

o   Recycling of organic waste into fuel briquettes can be an income generating venture, leads to efficient waste disposal and maintenance of environmental aesthetic quality. Enhancing the process of recovery of organic residues can restore various natural cycles, thus preventing the loss of raw materials, energy and nutrients.

o   Fuel briquettes are regarded as a viable answer to the urgent need for climate –friendly technologies in developing countries. The market prices of briquettes are cheaper than wood fuel and charcoal and they offer greater opportunity for environmental protection and sustainable development due to the following reasons:

Ø  Using briquettes made from organic materials and other biological residues helps conserve the vegetation cover in the environment by reducing community reliance on forests.

Ø  Briquettes emit little smoke in comparison to other sources of energy for domestic consumption and hence there is reduced pollution.

Ø  Briquettes offer a safe and financial way of disposing organic residues and by-products, which would otherwise pollute the environment.

Ø  Briquettes offer alternative source of fuel, which is cheap, easily available and accessible; they reduce the long hours community members, especially girls and women, would otherwise spend in search of fuel

Conclusion

Although briquettes are a viable and sustainable alternative to firewood and charcoal, there are several challenges to overcome before development of a successful briquette project. Perhaps the biggest challenge is convincing community members that briquettes can actually replace traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal. The transition from firewood to briquettes can be difficulty, particularly in areas where fuel wood is readily accessible.

Article by Andrew Nyamu

Project Officer Inades formation Kenya

ROCKS! A SOURCE OF WATER, SOURCE OF LIFE

Water is life since all aspects of life are dependent on water. Water availability is important to any development to take place. Different eco zones have different water availability arising from different climatic conditions. Water safety is determined by the methods of collecting and storage, some pollutants enter water while at collection points while others at storage levels. Water pollution and contamination posses healthy threats to consumers and thus its key to ensure that water purity and safety remains a priority for any water harvesting venture lest water can become a curse in disguise. To achieve water per capita we should conserve our environment by not cutting down trees, by not cultivating along the river banks and by so doing we will be conserving our water sources.

 WATER HARVESTING USING THE ROCKS

There are different ways of harvesting water. The most common ways of harvesting water in Ukambani shallow wells, farm ponds, earth dams, boreholes, surface run off harvesting and roof catchments however Rock catchment harvesting is an opportunity which has hardly been explored by different partners.  Ukambani area is generally hilly with large rocks creating extensive barriers to viable economic ventures. This makes the rocks to be termed more as curses rather than blessings. However these rocks can become source of Ukambani Gold, source of life, source of water. To harvest water from the rocks, gutter like concrete thin wall is constructed to surround the rock then water is directed in a particular reserve which can be a water tank, water pond, earth dam or agricultural farm. Rain water running off a rock surface is gravitated to a reservoir by long lines of garlands made of rocks mortared on to the rock surface. Once the water has been harvested it is then subjected to different water treatments processes or used in the same state depending on the water use options available for the users. In Kitui south constituency the technology has been in practice and has provided water for domestic and agricultural use for years. In Kaweli Sub location of Mutomo location the water harvested from Kaseva rock catchment provide both drinking and other household uses for the community for months. Rock catchment have very little maintenance cost, maintainance of rock catchments includes cleaning the catchments and its reservoir before rainy seasons and to replace water taps.

CHALLENGES FACING ROCK CATCHMENTS

Though there is a risk of water evaporation especially in an open water reservoir the benefits are more thus making rock catchments more economically

There is still the risk of contaminations although not much as compared to the other rainwater collecting methods. This is because small rain showers falling on large rocks can provide huge volumes of run-off water which is collected. Water collected through the use of the rocks is less contaminated and if there is any contamination the suns UV rays will sterilize most contaminants. The problem of water evaporation may be curbed by roofing the catchments with Ferro cement which makes it more hygienic and clean. 

CONCLUSION

Rocks not only provide a means of water harvesting but are also a source of other useful uses in our community. Rocks beatify our environment thus providing beautiful scenery which is a tourist attraction site which is another gain which can be tapped from the rocks. Rocks are used in Ukambani for commercial purposes i.e. rocks are grounded in to small pieces which are used for building purposes. People ground the rocks and then sell them so as to earn a living. Rocks should be seen as blessing with variety of unexplored benefits and not curse and obstacle to investments.

 By

Muendo Nyamu

Project officer Inades Formation Kenya 

www.andrewnyamuconservation.blogspot.co.ke

RESIDENTS EMBRACE DROUGHT TOLERANT TREE SPECIES

RESIDENTS EMBRACE DROUGHT TOLERANT TREE SPECIES

Woes of Ukambani farmers and residents may soon come to an end in near future. A new species of lacebark elm tree which does well in arid and semi arid areas is being planted by farmers in their efforts to combat Climate Change in their locality. The tree by the name Melia Volkensii may redeem the residents of Ukambani from the current difficulties they are facing subject to long dry spell the place has witnessed in the region year in year out.  

PLANTING PREPARATIONS

 Melia Volkensii plant has very hard seed shell in which the seed are enclosed in it. To plant, the seed shell is first crushed against hard object but with great care to ensure that the seed are not destroyed. After the seed have been removed from their hard inner shell they are then dried in hot sun for two to four days depending on the intensity of the sun rays. Once the seeds have fully dried up they are then put in course wet sand for the root and shoot to develop. When the shoot starts to appear they then transplanted to nursery where they develop before they are taken to the farm, while still on the nursery they are highly protected from direct sunlight. This is because the seed are very fleshy and hot sun can easily make them wither

TRANSPLANTING

 After the seedlings have grown in the nursery they are then transplanted in the field. While planting them earth pots are dug to ensure that the irrigated water can be conserved. A temporally fence is erected around the seedling to safeguard it from effects from external force such as wild animals, domestic animals and any other form of interference. The shielding is very essential because the plant is very vulnerable and slide effect during the tender age of the tree can easily affect the entire life span of the tree making it produce poor quality timber. After the seeds have stabilized the fence is removed to ensure that they have access to sunlight significant for their growth and development.

BENEFITS ACCRUED FROM MELIA VOLKANSIL TREE

 The tree has a wide range of the benefits both to the local community and natural Environment. Since the tree adapts well in Arid and Semi-Arid areas it can successfully be used to replace those species which are unable to withstand dry climatic condition. This is very beneficial especially in this era when there is global warming coming up as a result of concentrations of green house gases in the Atmosphere because forests which used to act as carbon sinks have  either been cleared to pave way for human ventures or have dried up as a result of change in Weather patterns. Melia Volkensii can help to reclaim these forests and afforest the bare lands in arid and semi arid areas. This tree species offers very comfortable shade since its bushy in nature and thereby can act as green space in homestead farms of public places such as market places, churches, schools etc. the tree either provides high quality timber and within a short period, this is substantial benefits to residents of Arid and Semi Arid areas as they can grow this species in place of those species which of late have proved to be hectic to plant and maintain due to high water required rates. This in turn offers an alternative source of livelihood in Ukambani and other similar areas. Either Melia Volkensii tree burns slowly and releases minimal smoke this is effective in reducing indoor pollution which has posed health threat to residents in rural areas women being the most affected. Finally the tree has no effects to the neighboring vegetation.

 CONCLUSION

 In this era when the humanity is under threat and faced by both economic and financial crisis, some innovation are fundamental in ensuring that the world remains habitable. Those species which can offer alternative income and help in forestation and reforestation need to be embraced by all. Intense research needs to be undertaken to find out which species both floral and faunal can do best in respective climatic conditions. This will in turn reclaim the lost glory of Mother Nature

RIVERS THREATENED AS SAND HARVESTING BECOMES A NORM IN LOWER EASTERN REGION

RIVERS THREATENED AS SAND HARVESTING BECOMES A NORM IN LOWER EASTERN REGION.

Ukambani region especially Machakos and Makueni Counties continue to face adverse consequences of illegal sand harvesting. Its proximity to rapidly expanding major towns of Nairobi, Athi River, Thika and Machakos make it vulnerable to sand harvesting which has caused advance environmental degradation on river beds,  rivers banks and farm lands as the sand dealers and brokers’ transverse the region with absolute impunity.

Sand harvesting effects

As the wrath of sand harvestings menaces continues, sand rivers are losing their grip to hold water for the sole reason that the sand particle forms the aquifer which holds the water and makes it available for the community members for domestic and Agricultural uses. Moreover this uncoordinated/Uncontrolled sand harvesting causes soil erosion because as the sand is being excavated the soil particles becomes loose and are thereby susceptible to erosion by agents of soil erosion. Sand trucks are too heavy for the rural feeder roads and as they move about the make the soil particles loose making them to be eroded too. Infrastructures have been destroyed due to the sand harvesting booming business, roads and bridges are the major casualties. In Ukambani some roads have been rendered impassable because sand has been scooped either by leaving the roads very thin or having potholes which make it dangerous to drive; worse still sand has been harvested beneath bridges resulting in to possible breakage of bridges with possible catastrophic consequences     

Sand harvesting evils no barrier, in many areas notably Kathama location, Mbiuni Location, Kathiani and Masinga in Machakos and Mukaa and Kibwezi East and Kibwezi west, menaces have gone beyond natural environment to human conflicts and livelihood destructions. Youths armed with crude weapons have invaded in to private farms to scoop sand, at times the situation has become lethal leading to injuries and deaths of people protecting their God given resources. Majority of resident of Ukambani are small scale subsistence farmers and destruction of water catchments through sand harvesting renders the community in a vicious chain of poverty and dependency.

Dwindling Education levels

Sand harvesting makes use of cheap unskilled labour provided by unemployed youth and school students who are driven in to the trade by desperation and pangs of hunger. This has resulted into school going youth missing school to participate in the trade. Lack of regulation and greedy by the sand harvesting cartels create a loophole whereby pupils and student take cheaper option of making cash rather than concentrating in to their studies. Continued missing of classes coupled with desire for financial independency make schooling lesser rewarding option hence school dropout phenomenon

County efforts

Both Makueni and Machakos counties come to power with promise to regulate the sand trade and ensure citizenry of the counties reap the benefits of sand as a resource from the counties. Both counties did pass an act through their legislative wing for regulate the trade with keen emphasis on water provision. However the two gazzetted acts remain moribund  and it appears sand harvesting cartels knows which baton to press at what time, what makes it so difficult for the counties to implement the act?. With massive sand harvesting within the region the efforts by County government and other stakeholders construct water harvesting structures lacks clarity and vision; why built more when the little is being stolen with impunity?

Muendo Nyamu

Human rights and Environmental activist

Project officer Inades Formation Kenya

http//:andrewnyamuconservation.blogspot.co.ke