Experiences in the production and use of alternative energy sources at

the farm level in Colombia

Antonio Solarte

CIPAV - Colombia

Fundación Centro para la Investigación en Sistemas Sostenibles de Producción Agropecuaria – CIPAV

Precedents 1/2

• CIPAV Foundation is a Colombian non-

governmental organization specialized in

research, training and spreading of

sustainable systems of agricultural

production.

• It began activities in 1986 as an Inter-

institutional agreement; in 1992 it

becomes a non-profitable organization.

Fundación Centro para la Investigación en Sistemas Sostenibles de Producción Agropecuaria – CIPAV

Precedents 2/2

CIPAV’s work is related to the sustainable

production systems that strengthen:

• Food security

• The supplying of renewable energy,

• The decontamination of served waters,

• The use of available local resources

• The generation of income and rural

employment.

Outline

• Sustainable livestock production systems

• Productive decontamination system

• Charcoal production from silvopastoral

systems

• Buffaloes as work animals

Basis for sustainable livestock production

systems in the tropics

• The use of solar energy

• High biomass yielding perennial crops adapted to tropical environment

• Multipurpose trees and aquatic plants with potential to fix nitrogen

• Fractionation of the biomass into the fibrous and soluble components

• Livestock species: ruminant and monogastric to use the different

feedstuffs available.

• Recycling of manure, waste water and agricultural fibrous residues .

• Integration of agriculture and livestock production.

SUN

BIOMAS YIELDING

CROPS

MULTIPOURPOSE TREES

AGROFORESTRY

SILVOPASTORAL

SYSTEMS

FAMILY

LIVESTOCK

SPECIES

RECYCLING SYSTEM:

BIODIGESTOR – EARTH

WORMS

AQUATIC

PLANTS

Productive Decontamination System

•Components : low cost plastic biodigester – aquatic plants - fish ponds

•Benefits of low-cost plastic digesters in the farming system

•Provides a source of fuel at farm level.

• Avoid deforestation for fuelwood

•Reduction in the environmental pollution: waste water used in

agricultural activities and odours

•Improve the quality of life of the family

•Less smoke in the kitchen : clean air, less diseases..

•Less work invested to obtain firewood

•The handling of animal excreta is an alternative in the recycling

process to produce energy and fertilizer.

Productive Decontamination System

• Low cost in comparison with

other biogas systems

• Easy construction locally

• Flexibility of design to fit

different needs and scales

• 60-80% efficiency in removing

organic matter

• Biogas source of fuel for cooking

• Effluent source of fertilizer:

Crops, aquatic plants, fish

ponds

Low-cost plastic biodigestors

• Production of biomass (green-manure or forage)

• Removal of nutrients and pollutants

• They are inexpensive and easily constructed

Aquatic plants pond

ASPROINCA

• A rural-based organization of 350 Indigenous and peasant families in the central

part of Colombia.

•Technical assistance is made by skilled farmers who belong to the organization

•Families work in process from farmer to farmer training on sustainable farming

systems and develop farm planning processes that are supported with resources

from a revolving fund.

•To be accepted into the organization a new family requires at least six months of

training with other families.

•The spread of technology has been generated from farmer to farmer

SUSTAINABLE FARM PLANNING

FOOD SECURITY

AGROFORESTRY AND SILVOPASTORAL SYSTEM

FODDER BANKS

SMALL LIVESTOCK

• Soils restauration

WATERSHED PLANING AND MANEGEMENT

• ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCESALTER

FUELWOOD BANKS

BIODIGESTERS

SUN DRIERS

ECOLOGICAL STOVES

Experiencias en descontaminación y tratamiento de aguas residuales

WASTE WATER

DECONTAMINATION

SYSTEMS

BIODIGESTERS

Huemdales

sub-

superficiales

WETLAND AND AQUATIC

PLANTS

INTEGRATED AQUATIC SYSTEMS

ASPROINCA – Biodigesters

••Since 1997 the technology of plastic bio-digesters is being promoted; an

average of 25 units per year are installed. Between 2005 a 2008 a total of 220

units were built-up.

•In planning of the farms, bio-digester appears as an alternative to adopt

because it can help to solve different problems

•The Revolving Fund supports the purchase of materials USD 400.

•Currently the organization has 35 men and 9 women farmers able to support

the training process for installation and management of bio-digester

•The family must provide the labour required for installation

•Save USD $ 60 per year for the purchase of propane

•Saving wages for firewood; from 4 per month to 1.