Intitulated "Valorization of agro-residues (peanut shells) for biofuel production by Women Groups in Covè (Benin): effect on the reduction of greenhouse effect." This project aims to limit the use of wood, which degrades the environment and causes health problems to women.
Project history
For the past 5 years, Benin has been involved in a dynamic process of promotion and enhancement of local products. This puts it in a process of labelling of local products in order to provide them with a designation of geographical origin. Among these products is the vegetable oil Agonlimi (peanut oil) of Covè. Covè is one of the communes in the Zou department whose agriculture is based mainly on the production of peanuts and rice. The women of the locality, in the dynamic of adding value to the peanuts produced, are mainly involved in the transformation of peanuts into peanut oil and Klui-klui as a co-product. This oil with its particular properties has led the government to opt for this reform. This decision of the government leads to an increase in the production of Agonlimi oil, whose production process generates a large amount of waste (peanut shells). However, the process requires a high consumption of firewood. The energy requirement of the transformation process comes 100% from the surrounding vegetation. This leads to a growing and rampant deforestation, as well as the emission of greenhouse gases. This situation worries the local authorities of the commune of Covè who request the valorisation of the agro-residues to mitigate this problem. It is thus urgent to develop alternative measures to contribute to the preservation of the environment. Thus, the agricultural residues (peanut shells and rice husks) available in the commune offer an alternative for the production of biochar briquettes for the supply of thermal energy to households and to the peanut oil production units Agonlimi and Klui-klui. These residues would constitute a sustainable alternative to the environmental problems caused by the increase in oil and klui-klui production in the commune. This justifies the present project, which is part of the valorisation of agricultural residues (peanut shells and rice husks) for the production of biofuel for the group of women transformers of peanuts into klui-klui of Agonlin in Benin.
Needs and Benefits of the project
The needs of those associations (MIHINAYI and SEDAMI women's groups) are :
• Healthy source of energy
• Energy source suitable for klui-klui production.
• Briquettes manufacturing unit to produce that source of energy
Expected environmental impact
This project will contribute to avoid at least 50 tons of CO2 emission in 15 years.
