Bio-Energy Carriers in Agriculture in the Republic of Zambia

Bc. Odjukwu Banda

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Bio-Energy Carriers in Agriculture in the LDCs (Zambia) thesis was carried with some of the main objectives as: analyze the importance of moving from fossil fuel dependence to renewable and sustainable energy; identify which plants can be used as bioenergy carriers in Zambia; justify why Jatropha and Elephant grass should be considered and used as bioenergy carriers in Zambia; analyze what energy and how the energy is produced from these carriers; identify some of the constraints in bioenergy development in Zambia and how to improve the bioenergy sector. The primary data was collected by discussing with 2 farms -- 1 that plants Jatropha and the second being a farm growing and buying elephant grass to produce bioenergy. The discussions were conducted on the phone and were not based on a questionnaire but purely based on dialogue. The results shows that Zambia indeed has the potential to be among the major powers of bioenergy production in Africa with its massive unused land. Jatropha and elephant grass as bioenergy carriers in Zambia have a higher chance of development because they will not affect the prices of the food commodities as these plants are non-edible to human beings. With the country's climate, landscape and some inputs, both plants are capable of producing high yields and harvests which would be used to produce bioenergy not only for Zambia, but the country would also export to other countries who lack the abundance of land Zambia has. With only these two farms contacted and seeing what they are doing, the bioenergy sector would indeed greatly contribute to lowering the current high unemployment rates especially among the rural areas. This would also provide stable income for farmers and the people employed in the sector helping the government in its efforts of reducing poverty. But for Zambia to fully reap the benefits of bioenergy sector should address main constraints in this sector among others lack or low level of technology and know-how in this field. Zambia has recently been cooperating with Brazil in bioenergy which is a good sign since Brazil is a major power in bioenergy production. Zambia through the relevant ministries still has a lot to do.

Keywords

Jatropha, Bioenergy, Biofuel, Eelephant Grass, Biomass, Pellets

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 22. 4. 2016

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Vladimír Krepl, CSc.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / Sustainable Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics