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RE: Kenaf and agroresidues for livestock feed & rural industries
RE: ECOAGROFORESTRY(TM) - SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY
AND RURAL AGROINDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
ARTICLE based on a request for information on KENAF.
USING KENAF AND AGRORESIDUES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Kenaf (Hibiscus Cannabinus) is a tropical plant related to cotton and okra.
The USDA has been investigating kenaf for years for use in the production of
nonwood paper. It is already grown in many tropical countries for use in
making rope. In fact, about 1,500,000 hectares are grown in small backyard
plots for fiber. Now, however, research by USDA reveals kenaf has a high
(up to 35%) protein content, with amino acid content equivalent to alfalfa.
Since alfalfa does not grow in the tropics, it will be a good crop for
producing feed for livestock in tropical countries. To get this protein
content, the growth must be cut BEFORE it is 80 days old. After 80 days,
the fibers build up in the stem, the leaf to stem ratio changes and the
protein level drops.
Information, ideas and methods of EcoAgroForestry will be shared in
workshops and seminars on industries based on KENAF mixed with AGRORESIDUES
like wheat straw, rice straw, sugar cane bagasse, etc. at the
EcoAgroForestry Century conference in Arkansas on September 18-21, 1996
sponsored by the EcoAgroForestry Trade and Development Center (EAFTDC).
There is a Call For Papers on any aspect of sustainable agriculture,
sustainable forestry, sustainable development, use of agroresidues, NONWOOD
paper, rural industrial development, rural development, technologies for
developing rural industries, kenaf growing and utilization, and the
development of EcoAgroForestry projects in Caribbean Basin and Andean Group
countries.
Most of the rainforests are cut to create low grade, short term pastures
(mainly for hamburgers sold in the USA). The Sustainable People Centered
Development, Inc. nonprofit organization is planning the Tropical Kenaf Cut
and Carry System. This is designed to produce livestock feed for feeding
livestock in Latin American countries in order to stop rainforest destruction.
Kenaf can be fed alone as a high quality livestock feed. However, the
protein content is so high, it is better mixed with AgroResidues to produce
a more balanced feed. Kenaf and AgroResidues can also be combined to make
many industrial products.
EAFTDC is promoting the concept of Rural AgroIndustrial Centers (RAICs),
each containing several modules to produce selected products such as
livestock feed, poultry litter, fuel briquettes, building materials such as
particleboard, heatboard, nonwood paper, electricity generation, oil
absorbents, nonwoven fibers, woven fibers for cloth, organic fertilizer and
soil amendment.
The KENAF GROWERS NETWORK is a membership organization which has published
the first issue of a newsletter called the KENAF GROWERS NOTEBOOK. Send
email message with mailing address for a free copy to come by regular mail
to Dr. Carol Cross, Director, EAFTDC.
For information on any of the above items, send email to Dr. Cross at
solync@cei.net.
CONF1.DOC
CUTNCAR.DOC