Competitiveness of cassava-based ethanol production in Southern Africa: a case of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia

Whereas the global economy has from time immemorial depended on fossil fuels, technological innovations are steadily paving ways to relieve pressure from the dwindling resources and combat the environmental consequences that come along with oil extraction and use. Production and use of bio-fuels suc...

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Main Authors: Kambewa, E., Mudimu, G.D., Jumbo, S., Mahungu, N.M., Tafadzwa, E., Nyanzunda, T.E., Whingwiri, E.
Format: Conference Paper
Language:Inglés
Published: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/90577
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author Kambewa, E.
Mudimu, G.D.
Jumbo, S.
Mahungu, N.M.
Tafadzwa, E.
Nyanzunda, T.E.
Whingwiri, E.
author_browse Jumbo, S.
Kambewa, E.
Mahungu, N.M.
Mudimu, G.D.
Nyanzunda, T.E.
Tafadzwa, E.
Whingwiri, E.
author_facet Kambewa, E.
Mudimu, G.D.
Jumbo, S.
Mahungu, N.M.
Tafadzwa, E.
Nyanzunda, T.E.
Whingwiri, E.
author_sort Kambewa, E.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Whereas the global economy has from time immemorial depended on fossil fuels, technological innovations are steadily paving ways to relieve pressure from the dwindling resources and combat the environmental consequences that come along with oil extraction and use. Production and use of bio-fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel are among such innovations that are attracting attention both in developed and developing economies. Although Africa is the largest producer of cassava on the globe, the competitiveness of cassava based ethanol production in Africa has not be been adequately examined. This paper presents results of a feasibility study conducted in Angola, South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia on the competitiveness of cassava based ethanol production. The results show that, relative to maize and sugarcane, the use of cassava in ethanol production is competitive on: (1) feed stock availability, 2) low production costs, and 3) high ethanol yield. Cassava has high yield potential of 6 – 40mt/ha compared to maize which yields about 1-3.5mt/ha. Hence less land would be required to grow the crop for ethanol production. Cassava production costs are low compared to sugarcane that requires huge (irrigation) infrastructure. Cassava yields up to16,000l ethanol per hectare compared to maize that yields about 800l/ha and sugarcane that yields about 7200l/ha. However, the study notes that conflict of use between food security needs and bio-fuel production need further understanding. The paper concludes that with large scale investment in cassava production, more research on high yielding cassava varieties and an enabling policy and institutional support, SADC countries would be able to venture into large scale cassava based ethanol production.
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publishDate 2010
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spelling CGSpace905772023-02-15T06:35:33Z Competitiveness of cassava-based ethanol production in Southern Africa: a case of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia Kambewa, E. Mudimu, G.D. Jumbo, S. Mahungu, N.M. Tafadzwa, E. Nyanzunda, T.E. Whingwiri, E. cassava ethanol new technology biofuel competitivity southern africa countries ethanol production Whereas the global economy has from time immemorial depended on fossil fuels, technological innovations are steadily paving ways to relieve pressure from the dwindling resources and combat the environmental consequences that come along with oil extraction and use. Production and use of bio-fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel are among such innovations that are attracting attention both in developed and developing economies. Although Africa is the largest producer of cassava on the globe, the competitiveness of cassava based ethanol production in Africa has not be been adequately examined. This paper presents results of a feasibility study conducted in Angola, South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia on the competitiveness of cassava based ethanol production. The results show that, relative to maize and sugarcane, the use of cassava in ethanol production is competitive on: (1) feed stock availability, 2) low production costs, and 3) high ethanol yield. Cassava has high yield potential of 6 – 40mt/ha compared to maize which yields about 1-3.5mt/ha. Hence less land would be required to grow the crop for ethanol production. Cassava production costs are low compared to sugarcane that requires huge (irrigation) infrastructure. Cassava yields up to16,000l ethanol per hectare compared to maize that yields about 800l/ha and sugarcane that yields about 7200l/ha. However, the study notes that conflict of use between food security needs and bio-fuel production need further understanding. The paper concludes that with large scale investment in cassava production, more research on high yielding cassava varieties and an enabling policy and institutional support, SADC countries would be able to venture into large scale cassava based ethanol production. 2010 2018-01-25T13:11:48Z 2018-01-25T13:11:48Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/90577 en Limited Access International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Kambewa, E., Mudimu, G.D., Jumbo, S., Mahungu, N.M., Fafadzwa, E., Nyanzunda, T.E. & Whingwiri, E. (2010). Competitiveness of cassava-based ethanol production in Southern Africa: a case of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. In: Proceedings of 10th ISTRC-AB symposium in Mozambique: root and tuber crops for poverty alleviation through science and technology for sustainable development, (p. 76-88), 8-12 October, Maputo.
spellingShingle cassava
ethanol
new technology
biofuel
competitivity
southern africa countries
ethanol production
Kambewa, E.
Mudimu, G.D.
Jumbo, S.
Mahungu, N.M.
Tafadzwa, E.
Nyanzunda, T.E.
Whingwiri, E.
Competitiveness of cassava-based ethanol production in Southern Africa: a case of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia
title Competitiveness of cassava-based ethanol production in Southern Africa: a case of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia
title_full Competitiveness of cassava-based ethanol production in Southern Africa: a case of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia
title_fullStr Competitiveness of cassava-based ethanol production in Southern Africa: a case of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia
title_full_unstemmed Competitiveness of cassava-based ethanol production in Southern Africa: a case of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia
title_short Competitiveness of cassava-based ethanol production in Southern Africa: a case of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia
title_sort competitiveness of cassava based ethanol production in southern africa a case of angola malawi mozambique south africa and zambia
topic cassava
ethanol
new technology
biofuel
competitivity
southern africa countries
ethanol production
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/90577
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