1. Mwenda Mithika/Robert G. Mutua
BIOFARM!
A CARITAS KENYA AND PACJA PILOT COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECT ON INTEGRATED CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION/MITIGATION
Mwenda Mithika/Robert G. Mutua

2. All these initiatives are in Kamutune demonstration farm

3. WHAT IS IT?
A type of organic farming developed to cushion communities from effects of climate change
Offers alternative development pathway that is more sustainable
In a climate-constrained future, innovative livelihood options must be developed
Biofarm is one such innovative way to sustainably utilise the diminishing natural resources.

4. DESCRIPTION? Biofarm in adaptation and mitigation
Biofarm and sustainable development
Biofarm and modern technology
Biofarm and health/environment/ecology
Biofarm and innovation/enterprise development
Biofarm and gender empowerment
Biofarm and natural resource management (NRM)

5. Biofarm!
Components are zero-grazing unit, biogas plant and an organic garden, promoted together with water harvesting as a single unit.
Also involves sustainable water management, i.e rain water harvesting, storage and use.
Promotes innovations, inventions and use of technology i.e; plastic digesters, biogas incubators/brooders and generators, drip irrigation in organic agriculture
Biofarming is the ability to “recharge nature” – tree planting, water use, responsible use of energy, recycling, conservation (closed energy system)

6. Biofarm!
In a Biofarm!, there is a symbiotic relationship between components; Cattle stable, Biogas plant, RWH system, Organic garden are connected to each other by a umbilical cord such that none can survive without each other!
It combines innovation and appropriately easy-to-use traditional organic farming methods with scientific knowledge of ecology and modern technology.

7. More than organic farming, more than biogas…
Evaluation of biogas and organic farming projects in Kenya and the rest of the world; The Biofarm attempts to bridge the gaps in adoption/uptake and sustainability
For traditional biogas projects, energy is the main driving force!
For convenctional organic farming projects, reduced or no use of inorganic chemicals and fertilizers is the main objective!

8. WHY BIOFARM?…
Biofarming (biofarmer) aims to promote an integrated animal husbandry, innovative use of biogas to produce clean fuel, power income generating enterprises and act as the main source of organic fertilizer for organic garden which utilizes rain and waste water for small-scale irrigation.
The driving force of Biofarm is responsible use of resources for sustainable food production and income generation!

9. BIOFARM AND INNOVATION
1. Rain water harvesting technologies; conventional ferro-cement, plastic and masonry tanks being replaced by cheaper RWH technologies like underground rubble-lined tanks, underground HDPE lined ponds.
RESULTS
Reduction in costs of harvesting and storage per cubic meter of water.
Increase in storage capacity (volume)
Increase in productivity(outcome)

10. BIOFARM AND INNOVATION
2. Organic farming; Effective water use through drip irrigation, greenhouse farming and dry-land farming technologies.
RESULTS
Effective use of water for increased yields (yields per acre and acreage).
Costs of production (inputs-agrochemicals/inorganic fertilizers, weeds)
Reduced incidences of losses (harsh weather, pests and diseases)

11. BIOFARM AND INNOVATION
3. Bio gas utilization; Biogas and industrialization/enterprise development; use of biogas in incubation and brooding in poultry farming.
RESULTS
Costs reduction compared to electricity, petrol/kerosine and wood fuel to power incubators and brooders
Risks and reliability ( stand by sources of power)

12. More than organic farming, more than biogas…
Biofarm is more than biogas, more than organic farming and more than animal husbandry!
It is a solution to weather-related setbacks affecting smallholder producers who also face diminishing returns on their farm products due to population pressure, degraded soils and water scarcity.
A feasibility study commissioned by Biogas for Better Life in Kenya found out that Biogas technology has not picked up in Kenya because it is expensive to maintain alone.
It has always been viewed in isolation as a primary source of domestic energy.

13. More than organic farming, more than biogas…
On the other hand, organic farming projects in Kenya depend more on subsidies offered as incentives which are not sustainable and only address the interests of the consumer/market
A normal Organic farm relies on external sources to generate green manure/compost without necessarily worrying about its source or existence of animals as primary sources. An organic farmer can thus produce organic products even without animals.
Biofarm! Addresses this by bringing in other components to compliment the system making it more sustainable and attractive to farmers.

14. Biofarm! /Climate change mitigation
The Biogas component will reduce the amount of methane directly released into the atmosphere, by trapping it and facilitating its use as a green fuel.
In addition, the shift to biogas reduces forest degradation, thus serving as carbon sink
Organic farming minimizes the use chemical fertilizers which are sources of GHGs
Tree planting is a component of the biofarm model, and this will increase the forest cover

15. Three year pilot project by PACJA and Caritas Kenya
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Three year pilot project by PACJA and Caritas Kenya
A standard biogas plant of 16m3 in the pilot project in Kamutune Community Resource Centre-Meru County translates to 0.5 Ha of forest each year saved in terms of wood fuel requirements
The proposed 3m3 for 500 households surrounding the Mt. Kenya forest to be Biofarmers will save more than 150Ha of the forest every year.

16. SUMMARY OF RESULTS Cont…….
The use of renewable energy reduces the CO2-emissions through a reduction of the demand for fossil fuels. Capturing uncontrolled methane emissions, the 2nd most important GHG is reduced!
The three grade cattle at KCRC produces an average of 0.35m3 of manure = 8m3 biogas = 52 kWh gross = 13 kg CO2- emissions
8m3 biogas (up to 65% CH4) = 4 lts fossil fuel = 12.8 kg CO2
8m3 biogas = 44 kg fire wood = 88 kg CO2

17. SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Cont…….
By extending the KCRC findings to a single household;
Sampled household size (6 persons) had an average per capita consumption of 4 kg of wood per day for energy (cooking, heating and boiling water; type of food was 90% maize and beans-Githeri) 17 kWh (equivalent to 1USD per day of electricity) which could be covered by about 3m3 of biogas.
Annually, 1,460 kgs of wood per household = 6,200KWh (370 USD per year). A 3m3 biogas plant can save more than one and half tons of firewood or 0.3 acres of forest per year.

18. Earning money while enjoying healthy environment
The magic of Biofarm!
Carbon offset schemes are now buying credits
An average biogas plant of 16m3 can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 5 – 10 tons of CO2 annually. In case CDM and voluntary markets purchase these offsets by say 5 to 10 Euros per ton, this would provide households with an estimated average income of 30 – 40 Euros (Shs.3000 – 4000 ) per year.
Other sources of income in future if we preserve our forests: REDDs; Kenya has already been selected by WB for a pilot project in forest investment partnership

19. Biofarm! In adapting to climate change
The adverse effects of CC calls us to:
Diversification (changing the crop mix) dry-land farming technologies
Conservation agriculture
water harvesting and drip irrigation technology
promoting innovations
Monitor climate change events
Disseminating information/research
Awareness creation and advocacy
Building the capacity of farmers

20. Benefits of a Biofarm!
Increased consciousness of the raging debate of climate change
Increased and diversified family incomes/food security
Increased nutritional value and health of the family
Incentives to protect and preserve the environment
Women and children save time to fetch firewood and water.
Employment opportunity for the youth – artisans, technicians, etc
Policies at the county governments

21. Costs; capital to invest in all the biofarm components Solution;
Challenges !
Costs; capital to invest in all the biofarm components
Solution;
low cost locally fabricated biogas digesters, low cost RWH technologies like rubble lined underground tanks and HDPE lined ponds, breed upgrading among other options.
Enhancing research/knowledge mgt/policy interventions

22. components

23. Organic farming ….. Green house technology

24. Organic farming cont … drip irrigation
Vegetables grown under drip irrigation in an open field

25. Organic farming cont …. Nursery establishment

26. components

27. components

28. Biogas technology-tunnel
From the zero grazing unit, the dung is collected and channeled through this tunnel that leads to the digestion chamber.
In this tunnel, one is able to separate feeding residue from the dung and urine which are the key ingredients for biogas production.

29. Biogas technology- unit digester
From the zero grazing unit, the dung is collected and channeled through this tunnel that leads to the digestion chamber.
In this tunnel, one is able to separate feeding residue from the dung and urine which are the key ingredients for biogas production.

30. Biogas technology- biogas stove

31. Rain water harvesting techniques

32. INTEGRATED BIOGAS AND ORGANIC FARMING

33. components

34. components

35. Thank you!