Browsing by Author "Miito, Gilbert John"

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    A Short Review on the Potential of Coffee Husk Gasification For Sustainable Energy in Uganda [Version 1; Peer Review: 2 Approved]
    (F1000Research, 2017) Miito, Gilbert John; Banadda, Noble
    Agricultural biomass is widely recognized as a clean and renewable energy source, with increasing potential to replace conventional fossil fuels in the energy market. Uganda, like other developing countries, has a high dependency (91%) on wood fuel, leading to environmental degradation. With a coffee production of 233 Metric Tonnes per annum, relating to 46.6 Mega Tonnes of coffee husks from processing, transforming these husks into syngas through gasification can contribute to resolving the existing energy challenges. The objective of this article is to briefly review the energy potential of coffee husks through gasification, and how the gasification process could increase energy recoveries for coffee farmers. Previous findings indicate that the 46.6 Mega Tonnes per year of coffee husks generated in Uganda, with a heating value of 18.34 MJ/kg, is capable of generating 24 GWh of energy. This will address a 0.7% portion of the energy situation in Uganda, while protecting the environment.
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    Socioeconomic characterization and the agronomic practices that affect the use of pineapple waste to enhance soil fertility in Kayunga District, Uganda
    (Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 2017) Ahamada, Zziwa; Kyeyune, Kambugu Robert; Allan, Komakech; Nicholas, Kiggundu; Miito, Gilbert John; Florence, Kyazze
    Soil exhaustion and nutrient depletion are major constraints to pineapple farming in Uganda. This study explored potential for using on-farm waste from pineapple farming to conserve soil fertility and enhance agricultural productivity. Data collection was done using key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a semi structured survey questionnaire administered to 109 randomly selected pineapple farmers and processors. The data was analyzed in SPSS to generate descriptive statistics for selected variables followed by cross tabulation to explore linkages between the variables. Results indicate that farmers engaged in pineapple farming, have diverse socioeconomic backgrounds but activities engaged in are not significantly associated with socioeconomic variables examined except farming experience and gender. The major challenges faced by the farmers included soil exhaustion, lack of appropriate technologies, inappropriate pineapple waste management and decline in yield. It was noted that strategies used by farmers employing use of on-farm waste have not yielded significant contribution and as such farmers resort to use of off-farm manure which is expensive and increasingly hard to secure. It was recommended that a sustainable technology harnessing the abundant but underutilized on-farm biomass waste be developed to produce a highly nutrient-rich soil conditioner to enhance pineapple yield and as such empower the farmers.
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    Waste to energy technologies for solid waste management a case study of Uganda
    (CIGR Journal, 2016) Miito, Gilbert John; Banadda, Noble
    Municipal solid waste management is one of the major environmental problems of developing countries. Investments in solid waste management would not only translate into jobs and income but also a cleaner environment. Over years a number of solid waste management technologies have been carried out in many developing parts of the world. Some were successful in generating lasting impacts on the improvement of solid waste management, however, many technologies failed due to unsustainability. This is partly attributed to differences in waste characteristics between developed countries and the less developed countries and the resource constraints in less developed countries. On the other hand, less developed countries are also known for being energy deprived and thus energy recovery as sustainable waste management technology is advocated for in these countries. This paper seeks to review and assess the energy recovery potential from the various sustainable waste technologies in Uganda. The advantages attached to such technologies will be assessed and evaluated. In a further step, a comparative analysis with traditional energy sources like hydro-electricity power and petroleum products powered generators is also presented and discussed. This study concludes that renewable energy sources present Uganda with a rare opportunity to elevate millions out of energy poverty.