Renewable Energy in Agriculture

For small-scale farmers, the rising cost of oil-based farming inputs has put them under increased pressure. But affordable sources of energy are essential for farmers who want to expand their agricultural activities, or add value to their harvests through agro-processing. What potential, then, do renewable energies have for powering smallholder agriculture? This resource pack is a showcase for renewable energy technologies currently in use by farmers in Africa. These include use of wind, water and solar power to pump water, generate electricity and process crops. There are also interviews with farmers who use biogas made from livestock dung to improve on-farm energy flows, the use of plant-derived oil for lighting, and how to boost soil fertility using biomass.

Technical information, pack usage details, resources and full scripts (PDF Format)

Photo: Micha Jost ^Ref

Windmills for pumping water 5’47”

A new design of windmill under trial in Zimbabwe

Solar-powered water pumps 5’24”

150 communities in The Gambia get water this way

Solar-powered fans for tobacco curing 5’01”

Save fuelwood and increase control over temperature

Solar power for rural electrification 4’48”

Cameroon’s drive to spread the technology

Electricity from water power 3’20”

How a Kenyan village gets electricity from running water

Biogas for cattle farmers 5’12”

How livestock can improve on-farm energy flows

Biogas – clean energy from cattle dung 5’23”

Cooking and lighting from home-made gas

Jatropha oil – an alternative to kerosene 5’30”

A simple lantern than runs on home-grown oil

Charcoal briquettes for brooding chicks 4’52”

Briquettes made from waste charcoal dust

Recycling plant materials 5’21”

Refueling soils using crop residues and manure

Trees for fuel and fertility 3’00”

Planting nitrogen-rich trees that also provide fuelwood