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 <br>By Nita Bhalla<br>
 <br>KITUI, Kenya, June 6 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kenyan farmer Abel Mutie Mathoka believed it must be a joke when he was told he could water his drought-hit crops more inexpensively, cleanly and efficiently utilizing a [pump sustained](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) by cotton waste.<br>
 <br>"Who could think it's possible to make a fuel better than diesel from cotton seeds? I didn't!" [chuckled](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) Mathoka, crouching down to examine the watermelons on his 10-acre (four-hectare) shared plot in Ituri town in Kenya's southeast Kitui county.<br>
 <br>"But it works," he said, strolling over to a close-by tree and plucking a big green pawpaw. "Irrigation with this [biodiesel](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159346/mission-newenergy-delivers-maiden-biodiesel-production-to-global-oil-major-24476.html) water pump has helped me get greater yields, specifically throughout dry spell periods."<br>
 <br>Mathoka stated his profits had doubled in the 2 years he has actually been pumping water using [biodiesel](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1463471/000165495419013063/R31.htm), which is both more effective and 20  ($0.20) per litre more affordable than routine diesel.<br>
 <br>The [biodiesel](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) he is utilizing is not simply great news for him - it is likewise good news for the world.<br>
 <br>Unlike many biofuels, which are originated from crops such as maize, sugarcane, soybean, rapeseed and [jatropha](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86), it is made from a byproduct of the cotton-making procedure.<br>
 <br>That indicates that along with being cleaner and less expensive than regular fuel, it is more sustainable than other biofuels due to the fact that no additional land is required to produce it.<br>
 <br>From Brazil to Indonesia, the rush to cultivate [biofuel](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) crops has actually driven forest neighborhoods off their land and pushed farmers to change from crops-for-food to more successful crops-for-fuel - worsening food shortages.<br>
 <br>"Our biodiesel comes from crushing cotton seeds left over as waste after ginning - the procedure of separating the seeds from raw cotton," said Taher Zavery, handling director of Zaynagro Industries Ltd, the Kitui-based company producing the biodiesel.<br>
 <br>"We began producing and using it to power our cotton ginning factory in 2011. With increased production, we now utilize it for our trucks, offer it to the United Nations to run some of their buses - and also to regional farmers for watering."<br>
 <br>More than 1,200 farmers in Kitui have so far bought [biodiesel](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) pumps for watering as part of an initiative launched by Zaynagro in 2015, said Zavery.<br>
 <br>DRY RIVER BEDS<br>
 <br>Climate [modification](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) is taking a toll across east Africa and progressively erratic weather condition is ending up being commonplace in [nations](https://www.energy-xprt.com/companies/mission-newenergy-limited-36048) such as Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopia, leading to lower rainfall.<br>
 <br>The recurring dry spells are damaging crops and pastures and are starving animals - pushing millions of individuals in the Horn of Africa to the edge of severe appetite.<br>
 <br>The number of Kenyans in need of food help in March surged by nearly 70 percent over a period of 8 months to 1.1 million, mostly due to poor rains, according to government figures.<br>
 <br>With almost half Kenya's 47 counties stated to have a serious shortage of rain, humanitarian firms are cautioning of increased hunger in the months ahead.<br>
 <br>"Only light rainfall is forecast through June ... and this is not anticipated to relieve drought in affected areas of Kenya and Somalia," said the Famine Early Warning Systems [Network](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile) in its latest report.<br>
 <br>"Well below-average crop production, poor livestock body conditions, and increased regional food rates are prepared for, which will decrease bad homes' access to food."<br>
 <br>In Kitui's Kyuso area, the indications are currently [obvious](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159352/mission-newenergy-debt-free-focused-on-biofuel-joint-venture-60797.html).<br>
 <br>Rivers, water pans and dams are drying up as a result of the [extended drought](https://www.investing.com/equities/mission-newenergy-ltd-company-profile).<br>
 <br>Villagers experience trekking longer ranges - often more than 10 km (6 miles) with their donkeys loaded with empty [jerry cans](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/51278-86) in search of water.<br>
 <br>Small-scale farmers, many of whom depend on rain-fed farming, talk about plans to offer their goats to make ends satisfy if the harvest is bad.<br>
 <br>BATTLING DROUGHT WITH BIODIESEL<br>
 <br>But not all Kitui's farmers are worried.<br>
 <br>A small however growing number are shedding their burden of reliance on the weather - and buying watering systems powered by Zaynagro's cotton seed biodiesel through a pay-as-you-go scheme released more than three years back.<br>
 <br>Neighbouring farmers unite to buy the watering system - which consists of the [biodiesel](https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/felda-global-buys-missions-kuantan-port-plant-for-11-5-million-9053) pump, 12 metres of pipes and 10 litres of biodiesel - at expenses beginning with 32,000 shillings, depending upon the size of the pump.<br>
 <br>The farmers make a preliminary payment, then pay interest-free monthly instalments till the total is settled. They buy the biodiesel to run the pumps from Zaynagro at 80 shillings a litre.<br>
 <br>Farmer Alex Babu Kitheka, 39, said the biodiesel pump allowed him to irrigate a larger part of his one-acre plot, where he grows a variety of vegetables consisting of maize, tomatoes, spinach and sweet potatoes.<br>
 <br>"With a diesel pump, maize yields were lower and I would get 15,000 shillings in 3 months. With the biodiesel pump, I can make 45,000 shillings," said Alex Babu Kitheka, standing near his plot in Ilangilo village, 40 km (25 miles) from [Kitui town](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/MNELF:US).<br>
 <br>CIRCULAR ECONOMY<br>
 <br>Other farmers indicate the plan as a significant benefit in assisting improve their output.<br>
 <br>"The instalment plan is good. Most farmers don't have the money and can not easily get a loan to purchase a pump like this," stated Maurice Kitheka Munyoki, 41, as he stood beside his blue biodiesel pump.<br>
 <br>"Having a plan like this helps us a lot. Our yields are great which suggests we can pay off the expense of the pump slowly in small amounts, and have cash left over to pay the school charges."<br>
 <br>Zaynagro's effort is still in its early stages, with few farmers having paid back the full expense of the pumps.<br>
 <br>But such [biofuel](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/mission-newenergy) [schemes](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0cqd_rb) are promising since they create a circular economy by turning waste to [biofuel](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/ASX:MBT/Mission-NewEnergy-Ltd) for earnings, said Sanjoy Sanyal, senior partner for Clean Energy Finance at the World Resources Institute.<br>
 <br>The simpleness of the model - easy-to-use, robust technology, ensured supply of [biodiesel](https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/shares/asx-mbt/mission-newenergy-limited/share-price) integrated with a pay-as-you-go plan - could help amaze rural Africa, he stated.<br>
 <br>"There is a mosaic of sustainable energy choices on the planet. The key problem is checking concepts and approaches in a collaborative style," stated Sanyal.<br>
 <br>"Other cotton ginning factories in the region must attempt and discover from this experiment. Financial organizations need to begin exploring with loans to groups of farmers. International donors and financiers require to support experimentation."<br>
 <br>($1 = 101.3000 Kenyan shillings) (Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, Editing by Claire Cozens. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, ladies's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, residential or commercial property rights and environment [modification](https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/159346/mission-newenergy-delivers-maiden-biodiesel-production-to-global-oil-major-24476.html). Visit http://news.trust.org)<br>