Turning Agricultural Waste into Affordable, Environmentally Friendly Cooking Fuel in Kenya with Briquette Machine Proposal

Due to the advancement of our orphans this year to higher institution, we are seeking support to establish a small-scale briquette-making enterprise in our rural community in Kenya to help them with fees, sustainment, and small university and college assignment that need materials. The project will use a locally fabricated briquette-making machine to transform readily available agricultural and biomass waste into affordable cooking fuel.

The community our orphans live is predominantly rural, and many families depend heavily on firewood and charcoal for cooking. Unfortunately, firewood is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain because trees are being cut faster than they are being replaced. As the availability of firewood decreases, families are forced to travel farther to collect it or purchase increasingly expensive fuel.

For many households, however, there are very few affordable alternatives.

We therefore propose to establish a briquette production business that will provide an alternative source of cooking fuel while helping to reduce pressure on the remaining trees and forests.

Why this is an Opportunity and our Humanist Approach

The situation creates several interconnected problems:

· Trees are being cut down for cooking fuel.

· Firewood is becoming increasingly scarce.

· Families spend significant time collecting firewood.

· Poor households may have to purchase firewood when they can no longer collect enough.

· Agricultural and other biomass waste is often burned or discarded.

· Continued deforestation contributes to environmental degradation.

Humanist Orphans goal is therefore not merely to tell people to stop cutting trees. We want to provide them with a practical alternative.

Small-Scale Briquette Production Enterprise Proposal

Briquettes provide an opportunity to address two problems at the same time.

First, they provide an alternative source of cooking fuel for households that currently depend heavily on firewood.

Second, they create a productive use for agricultural and biomass waste.

Instead of allowing waste to be discarded or burned, we can turn it into a useful commodity.

The project therefore combines environmental conservation, waste management and income generation.

Environmental conservation is one of the main reasons for establishing this project.

Our rural community depends heavily on natural resources, but the supply of firewood is not unlimited. As more trees are cut for fuel, the environment becomes increasingly vulnerable to soil degradation, loss of vegetation and reduced availability of wood in the future.

By introducing an alternative fuel source, we hope to reduce the pressure placed on trees.

An important aspect of this proposal is the use of a Jua Kali-made briquette machine.

Kenya has a strong tradition of local artisans and metal fabricators who design and manufacture machinery to address local needs. Supporting locally fabricated equipment means that the project can also contribute to the local manufacturing economy.

It also makes the project easier to maintain because repairs and modifications can potentially be carried out locally rather than depending entirely on foreign manufacturers.

Who will benefit from the Project?

Even though our main target is to sponsor orphans, this project goes beyond just the Humanist Orphans, the following people will also benefit:

· Rural households currently dependent on firewood;

· Low-income families looking for affordable cooking fuel;

· Local workers employed in briquette production;

· Farmers who can supply agricultural residues;

· The wider community through reduced pressure on trees and the environment.

The Proposed Budget

We are requesting approximately US $700 to buy the machine and other small production costs

Item Estimated Cost

Locally fabricated briquette-making machine US $ 600

Drying area/racks and storage construction US $ 50

Transportation, installation and contingency               US $ 50

Total US $ 700

Expected Income

We expect the briquette enterprise to generate approximately US $400 in net income per month once production and sales have become established.

The business will generate income through the sale of briquettes to households and other local customers. Because the raw materials can largely be sourced locally, we expect the enterprise to maintain relatively manageable production costs.

Prices of briquette machine links

https://ogungaengineeringworks.co.ke/shop/construction-industrial-machinery/brick-making-machines/briquette-charcoal-machine-for-sale-in-nairobi-kenya/

Note: Even though the cost of the machine might be higher in the link than our budget proposal, we have negotiated with the fabricator who also believe that we are doing a good cause to society.