\'
\
THE ROLE OF BIOGAS
ORGANIC
WASTE
RECYCLING
AND
IN RU~.L ENERGY
by
GICHUKI
Chairman,
MUCHIRI
Department of Agricultural
University ot Nairobi
Engineering
and
Chairman,
Kenya
Pipeline
Paper presented
Non-Governmental
Company
Ltd.
to the
Organisation
Forum
on
New and Renewable
Sources
8-9 June
':-0 V
"J.
'Oc.,...
) (j)'~
J'l'v",-C
1981
of Energy
THE
ROLE
RURAL
OF BIOGAS
AND ORGANIC
\\'ASTE
RECYCLING
IN
ENERGY
BACKGROUND
There
is a general
is or is going
awareness
wood
to be a serious
has been
and charcoal
there
awareness
created
leading
is a serious
that rural
problem.
energy
This
by the scarcity
to high prices.
lack of understanding
of fuel
However
of:
the real causes
of fuel wood
shortage
the limitations
in arresting
the problem
likely
consequences
interrelated
problem
is not
.'t· J
arrested
other
if the problem
areas
and equally
important
such as food production
and
employment
Without
aspects
a thorough
our efforts
in frustrations
production
understanding
can be misdirected
just like efforts
did not prevent
In a National
Cash Crop Policy
two problem
I
document
two objec'cive and very
agricultural
food crisis.
for Kenya by L H Brown
that Kenya's
is farm income.
said that the policy
to end up
to boost
the current
(1963) it was stated very clearly
number
of these
However
said much
lit.tle about
having
about
number
one
the number
-2-
Cash Crop Policy
Cash
crops
has virtually
like coffee,
production
the farm wood
lots and could
that these
foreign
modern
sector
Kenyans
That
shortage.
which
Cash Crop Policy
not in fact misdirected.
it was implemented
we should
creating
be most
real problems
solving
concerned
problems
to purchase
commercial
energy
the broad
persp~ctive
or not our
pride
- was
that
and even beyond:
to solve the energy
or failing
problem
food
is no question
qbout
and creating
the rural
subsidise
the capacity
of our society.
80%.
employment
- the Kenya's
we have
other problems
of 10-20%
is whether
There
a
needed
to expectations
andIbelieve
to create
badly
Now we are very determined
problems
save
than the rural
let alone
The big question
National
or helped
consisting
exchange
for its own use,
imports.
It is now apparent
20 times more
foreign
replaced
very well be the cause
has not generated
or sufficient
sugarcane
also virtually
has been used
of economy
earning
sector
energy
have
cash crops have earned
exchange
food production.
tea, pyrethrum,
and livestock
'of the fuel wood
stifled
to do it;
the possibility
to address
To: safeguard
others
of
the
against
in the process,
must be examined
of rural development.
against
-3-
Rural development
poverty
objectives
are to alleviate
by providing:
food
energy
employment.
This can only be achieved
of basic
resources
through
the utilisation
of:
land
labour
to increase:
agricultural
biomass
rural
production
energy
the role of biogas
in meeting
is examined.
arid Kenya
A mixture
the domestic
A case
may be partially
biogas
- organic
of biomass
etc) and water
and organic
and organic
from semi-
the possibilities.
waste
recycling
(vegetative
system
waste,
in the ratio of approximately
digested
in anaerobic
(mainly methane
residue ~nown
nutricnt.s (nitrogen,
waste
and agricultural
study drawn
is used to illustrate
THE BIOGAS·-SLURRY
produce
(\..
,d
industrialisation
In this paper
recycling
production
phosphorous,
1:9
process
and carbon
as sludge
dung,
to
dioxide)
,
containing
potassium
.
pl~nt
etc) in
-3-
Rural development
poverty
objectives
are to alleviate
by providing:
food
_',
(\t\ '
energy
.
employment.
This can only be achieved
of basic
resources
through
the utilisation
of:
land
labour
to increase:
agricultural
biomass
rural
production
energy
the role of biogas
in meeting
is examined.
arid Kenya
A mixture
may be partially
biogas
nutrients
the domestic
- organic
digested
(nitrogen,
known
recycling
(vegetative
system
waste,
of approximately
in anaerobic
(mainly methane
residue
from semi-
the possibilities.
waste
in the ratio
waste
and agricultural
A case study drawn
of biomass
etc) and water
and organic
and organic
is used to illustrate
THE BIOGAS·-SLURRY
produce
0 (\ ti
industrialisation
In this paper
recycling
production
phosphorous,
1:9
process
and carbon
as sludge
dung,
to
dioxid~)
containing
potassium
pl~nt
etc) in