The Challenges and Opportunities of Developing Biodiesel in Ethiopia: The case of castor seed in Eastern Hararge
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Date
2011
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Biojilels are believed to be reducing GHG emissions, contributing 10 energy security for foss il
file l imporling counlries. generaling new income opportunilies in rural areas, and improving
energy access for Ihe poor, wilh posilive implicalions for lhe environmenl and poverly
reduclion. However lhere are olher negalive consequences lhal queslion Ihe viabililY of
producing hiofi,lels. which includes conversion of land and olher produclive resources from food
10 bioJuels lhal could reduce food availability and increase food prices, and contribule 10
deplelion ofnalural resources when done in a non-sustainable manner in order to assess the challenges and opportunities of developing biodiesel in Ethiopia, farmers
who are working wilh FloraEco Power Company by producing caSlor in Eastern Hararge were
IiIken as a case study These farmers receive seeds, ferlilizers and peslicides ji'om Ihe company
and grow castor on their ollin land Finally Ihey sell Ihe harvested seeds to this company at a
fixed price set atlhe conlract signed behveen Ihem. The melhodology used was both qualilative and quantitative. Babille woreda was selected from
Ihe three wuredas Ihal Ihe cumpany is wurking un due 10 ils road accessibililY and road
availability. The sludy employed hvo-stage sampling procedure where al the first stage two
kebeles were selected randomly from Babille woreda and at the second slage 90 farmers were
selecled by systemalic random sampling. Parmers have benefited from this project in the case that new jobs have been createdfor them,
which has brought addilional source of income. in addilion job opporlunities were available for
nun-producers and agronomists in Ihe woreda. increase in price oJfood crops and decrease in
foud supply has occurred in Ihe area due 10 the new practice of caSlor produclion 10 a certain
degree in addition to shortage o/rainfall. Farmers have allocated portion of their land 10 castor
produclion but since they were able 10 inlercrop caslor wilh olher food crops il has not
compromised olher food produclion. Farmers use /erlilizers and peslicides monilored by
agronomists who work with them which will not affect the environmenl.
HOll'ever projects like this need proper moniloring 10 ensure sustainable development and to
make small farmers higher benejiciaries.
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Keywords
Developing Biodiesel in Ethiopia