Pig farmers to benefit from biogas systems

About 20,000 Biogas systems will be installed for pig farmers in the country, says the Founder of HomeBiogas Ghana, Yair Teller.

The installation is part of the HomeBiogas Carbon Project in collaboration with Webber Group.

The project will be implemented in nine regions-- Greater Accra, Volta, Oti, Eastern, Ashanti, Central, Western, Bono East and Upper East.

Among other things, the project is expected to reduce 1.6 million tons of carbon emissions, generate over 581,000 cubic metres of nutrient-rich bio-fertiliser annually and eliminate the use of wood stoves and charcoal.

Mr Teller further explained that farmers could save up to GH¢54,000 over 10 years by adopting the biogas system instead of traditional fuels, while also  improving agricultural productivity.

At the HomeBiogas Stakeholder Conference, Mr Teller highlighted the project’s goal of empowering Ghanaian farmers by giving them access to biogas systems, which would produce cooking fuel and fertiliser, resulting in cost savings and improved agricultural yields.

"Biogas is actually methane gas. It's a flammable gas, and you can use it for cooking your food, and as fertiliser,” he stated.

Speaking on the system’s output, Mr Teller emphasised that it could provide approximately five hours of cooking fuel daily and generate 150 litres of liquid fertiliser per day, adding up to 36,000 litres annually.

He said that the bio-fertiliser produced by the system was expected to enhance agricultural yields due to its balanced nutrient profile compared to  chemical fertilisers. 

Farmers

The President of Pig Farmers Association of Ghana, Kwame Appiah Danquah, said the HomeBiogas system offered a solution to waste management challenges on farms.

“We have a challenge with our waste in our farms, and with this biogas coming into the system, it means we are going to find a better way of storing our manure and turning it into proper energy usage, getting gas and also getting fertiliser out of it. So it's a game-changer, really”, he stated.

Mr Danquah explained that the biogas system would improve biosecurity by properly managing waste, stating, "When we handle this correctly, we can  avoid many of the biosecurity problems we previously encountered.”

On government support, Mr Danquah mentioned that discussions had commenced with the EPA and other agencies, urging the process to be expedited  to secure the necessary documentation to ensure a unified approach for the project's success.

He also emphasised the need for a cohesive framework to avoid different interpretations and ensure collective progress.