[haguruka.com] Re: Biofuels Ruanda

 

Thanks Theo for sharing such an interesting the document on Rwanda's biofuels.

It is revolting to hear that the conclusions from such a 2011 comprehensive scientific study titled " The potential of sustainable liquid biofuel production in Rwanda: A study on the agricultural, technical and economic conditions and food security" have landed on a deaf ear for more than 5 years during which taxpayers money continued to be squandered by the Rwandan government at an overwhelming pace while extreme poverty and famine continue to aflict most of the Rwandan people.

Here are some excerpts of such conclusions:

[...] 

The agricultural system analysis showed that despite current efforts by the Rwandan Government to improve agricultural production, current farming systems would not be profitable for the cultivation of plants such as castor, jatropha, moringa or sunflowers as the potential feedstock for biofuel production. Only bioethanol production from cassava and sugarcane, or the use of eucalyptus plantations for woodfuel would be profitable at present. Eucalyptus is actually the only profitable crop for use on marginal land. Moringa and jatropha would be profitable in intensified cropping systems, while castor would remain unprofitable. However, Rwanda still has to go a long way to achieve agricultural intensification. The adoption and application of modern production techniques needs to be accompanied by social and economic measures. The effective participation of farmers, especially in the current processes of crop regionalisation and land use consolidation, remains an indispensable condition for the social and economic sustainability of agricultural development. Considering that the area under cultivation for food crops was only 0.08 ha per capita in 2008, it is difficult to find available land for new cropping systems. Integrated farming systems could be an option for Rwanda to produce biofuel crops without using any additional agricultural land. Energy crops such as jatropha, castor and moringa can be produced without compromising food production. Indeed, they could even help to protect soil against erosion and crops against damage caused by animals.

The GAPP and GIS based potentials analysis revealed that no surplus land is available for energy crop cultivation at the moment, and that this is likely to remain the case in the future. This is due to the increasing food consumption and population growth, and the limited potential to extend the agricultural area. Increased productivity could help to meet the future food demand. Assuming that at least moderate increases in productivity (one per cent annually) are realised, the demand for additional areas to cultivate staple crops would fall slightly, but still remain high.

There could be potential to produce 25,000 t p.a. of vegetable oil from integrated systems for biofuel production. However, accessing this potential is uncertain. The potential on marginal land is currently not quantifiable, but assuming that three per cent of the existing agricultural land is classified as marginal, the potential is low. The possible yield (c. 6,000 t p.a.) is low and the accessibility doubtful.

This study therefore concludes that the cultivation of energy crops in plantations on marginal land is not an option for Rwanda. For jatropha cultivated in integrated systems or grown on marginal land, the potential can only be tapped if the following key questions are answered:

-Is jatropha accepted as a crop?
-What is the yield of jatropha if cultivated on marginal land?
-Are there definitely no uses that compete with jatropha cultivation?

[...]

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"Hate Cannot Drive Out Hate. Only Love Can Do That", Dr. Martin Luther King.

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On Feb 15, 2017, at 7:01 AM, Theodore Mpatswenumugabo <tmpatswe@yahoo.fr> wrote:

This document should also be of interest in addition to the one written by Himbara.

 Best,

<Potential_of_sustainable_liquid_biofuel_production_in_Rwanda-1.pdf>

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Posted by: Nzi Nink <nzinink@yahoo.com>

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