Enhancing benefits from biomass wastes within smallmedium scale coffee processing factories in Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2017
Authors
Kanyiri, Gituma
Waswa, Fuchaka
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Abstract
Coffee processing is associated with various sustainability challenges largely due to high water and
energy demand, biomass waste generation and lately low returns to farmers. The number of farmers
actively involved in coffee production in Kenya is declining. Despite this trend, this paper reports on the
potential of maximising benefits to coffee farmers by using coffee processing wastes (pulp and husks)
in energy and agricultural services. A survey research design targeting six small to medium scale
factories selected based on common criteria and 252 respondents was used. Results showed that
about 210 tons of unprocessed coffee was received cumulatively in all the six factories surveyed per
year. Processing generated approximately 51% biomass waste from the total input. Direct disposal of
this waste to land contributes to direct environmental pollution. Accumulation of coffee husks and pulp
was attributed to low awareness of the various uses these wastes have been successfully put
elsewhere in the world. Opportunities for increasing benefits to farmers and reduced environmental
loads exist in the conversion of coffee husks into branded briquettes for domestic energy supply, and
pulp into fortified organic fertilizer for increased land productivity. Kiambu County government needs
to invest in these two options through technological innovations and commodity specific extension
service that is aligned to global sustainable production and consumption patte
Description
Research paper
Keywords
Coffee processing biomass wastes, Sustainability benefits.
Citation
African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Vol. 11(4), pp. 198-206, April 2017 DOI: 10.5897/AJEST2016.2243 Article Number: 1FB6E1563351 ISSN 1996-0786 Copyright © 2017