RICE HUSKS TURN INTO A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR JOBS AND CLEAN ENERGY

By Carlos Claudio, Dodoma.

Rice husks, which for a long time have been discarded after harvesting, are now emerging as a business opportunity for entrepreneurs, with technology to convert them into alternative charcoal expected to help reduce deforestation, create jobs and contribute to economic growth.

The Director of Technology and Industrial Development at SIDO, Engineer Kalumuna Benedicto, made the remarks while speaking to journalists during a workshop to mark the completion of a project aimed at adding value to rice husks for the production of alternative charcoal.

Engineer Kalumuna said rice husks are easily available as they are often discarded and have little commercial value compared to other products. He said using them to produce alternative energy gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to access raw materials at a low cost.

He said the use of this technology not only increases income for entrepreneurs, but also contributes to environmental conservation, job creation and national economic growth.

The project, funded by the Government of Japan, was implemented in collaboration with UNIDO, SIDO, Nelson Mandela University and E-Square, a Japanese company. Under the project, three entrepreneurial companies were initially provided with machines through the Japanese funding.

Engineer Kalumuna said the major achievement of the project was demonstrating that agricultural waste, particularly rice husks, can be transformed into valuable products such as improved fuel briquettes and alternative charcoal.

He said SIDO is now working to encourage the private sector to recognize the business opportunity, while the government continues to provide support to enable more industries to adopt the technology.

He further explained that the Japanese machine provided through the project costs more than 100 million Tanzanian shillings. However, assessments have shown that similar machines can be manufactured locally through institutions such as SIDO, TEMDO and small-scale workshops.

According to Engineer Kalumuna, local production of the machines would help entrepreneurs who cannot afford to purchase expensive equipment from abroad, allowing them to access locally manufactured machines at a lower cost.

He said the project initially targeted industries, but research has shown that a major market for the alternative fuel is available in schools and institutions serving more than 100 people, where the fuel can be used for cooking.

The rice-husk fuel is currently sold at approximately 350 to 500 Tanzanian shillings per kilogram, making it an affordable energy source for institutions and people from different income groups.

The UNIDO Project Coordinator for the initiative to add value to rice husks for alternative charcoal production, Faustine Msangira, said the project is part of efforts to support the government in reducing deforestation and protecting the environment.

She said the project was implemented for approximately one and a half years in Morogoro, Mbeya and Shinyanga regions, where three small-scale entrepreneurial companies were given an opportunity to access machinery and training in alternative charcoal production.

She explained that after receiving the training, the companies started producing alternative charcoal and have been able to create employment, while schools have become among the key customers purchasing the product.

Msangira said the machines provided through the project are demonstration models, encouraging other entrepreneurs to learn from the initiative and establish businesses in the alternative energy sector.

One of the beneficiaries of the project and the machinery, Christopher Amory Salim from Raphael Group Limited, said the technology has provided his company with an opportunity to increase production and generate income while creating employment for young people and women.

He said young people have secured jobs operating the machines, while women and other young people have benefited from collecting and supplying rice husks for production.

However, he identified market access as one of the main challenges, since the product is still relatively new to consumers. Despite this, he said the company has started securing markets through schools and other institutions.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Motormax Energies, Ibrahim Kangamila, said the company specializes in processing agricultural waste and converting it into clean cooking energy.

He said further improvements are still needed in the sector, particularly in educating consumers about the benefits of clean energy and the actual costs and environmental impact associated with using wood-based fuels.

Kangamila said the company has started providing education in schools on the effects of deforestation and the importance of adopting clean energy, in support of government efforts to protect the environment and improve the well-being of Tanzanians.

Overall, stakeholders involved in the project said converting rice husks into alternative charcoal presents a major opportunity to combine business development, job creation and environmental conservation, while calling on the private sector to increase investment in alternative energy technologies.