Gulu Archdiocese has entered into partnership with the Nwoya based Bukona Agro Processors Limited to produce green fuel. The green fuel is produced from dry cassava chips for uses in local stoves.
The two entities say that they entered the partnership in a bid to curb the high level of forest depletion following the increasing demand for charcoal and firewood. Through the partnership, Gulu Archdiocese through the Acholibur Parish Project (APP) will grow cassava and cheaply provide dry cassava chips to Burkona Factory.
His Grace John Baptist Odama, the Archbishop for Gulu said that the APP has more than 6,900 registered farmers across the Acholi Sub Region who will grow cassava and sell to the factory to ensure consistent supply.
The farmers are also receiving cassava cuttings support and funding from the government under the Operation Wealth Creation -OWC through the Ministry of Agriculture Animal, Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF).
The Archbishop disclosed that the government last week allocated three billion shillings to the Acholibur Parish Project to facilitate cassava growth and the environmentally friendly initiative.
Pravin Kekhal, the Executive Director Bukona Factory disclosed that in their assessment, they envisage that Uganda will be able to save between 6,000 to 7,000 acres of forest annually as people will shift from the use of charcoal to the ethanol cook stoves.
Bhagyan Kekal, the Marketing Director Bukona Factory disclosed that the company has already produced several litres of the green fuel and stoves and a test conducted found that each liter can cook at least five meals a day and last between 5 to 8 hours.
He explained that once fully unveiled, each liter of the green fuel will be sold at approximately 3,000 shillings adding that it is environmentally friendly and does not emit smoke.
Situated in Lapem Village, Koch Goma Sub County, Bukona Agro Processors Limited was established in 2014 and commissioned in March 2019 with the intention of producing 30,000 liters of fuel distilled from cassava starch per day.
Abraham Odur, the Forest Supervisor for the Aswa River Range is happy that the development will save Uganda`s forest cover from destruction as it will curb the demand for firewood and charcoal which is widely used in households.
Source: URN
