Anumakonda Jagadeesh Facebook 25 June

2015
BIOENERGY OPTION IN ENERGY MIX IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Developing countries tend to have limited human and financial
resources, so bioenergy development should first explore
opportunities based on already available biomass and proven
technology, rather than investing in dedicated fuel crops and the
development of new technologies. Synergies between the forest
industry and energy generation provide opportunities for both
sectors. Integrating energy generation into forest industrial
operations is a competitive way of reducing risks, increasing
profitability and improving forest management. It also
strengthens energy security and contributes to climate change
mitigation. This should be a priority for exploration by developing
countries investing in bioenergy.
Biomass the fourth largest energy source after coal, oil and
natural gas - is the largest and most important renewable energy
option at present and can be used to produce different forms of
energy. As a result, it is, together with the other renewable
energy options, capable of providing all the energy services
required in a modern society, both locally and in most parts of the
world. Renewability and versatility are, among many other
aspects, important advantages of biomass as an energy source.
Moreover, compared to other renewables, biomass resources are
common and widespread across the globe. The sustainability
potential of global biomass for energy is widely recognized. For
example, the annual global primary production of biomass is
equivalent to the 4,500 EJ1 of solar energy captured each year.

About 5% of this energy, or 225 EJ, should cover almost 50% of

the worlds total primary energy demand at present. These 225
EJ are in line with other estimates which assume a sustainable
annual bioenergy market of 270 EJ. However, the 50 EJ biomass
contributed to global primary energy demand of 470 EJ in 2007,
mainly in the form of traditional non-commercial biomass, is only
10% of the global primary energy demand. The potential for
energy from biomass depends in part on land availability.
Currently, the amount of land devoted to growing energy crops
for biomass fuels is only 0.19% of the worlds total land area and
only 0.5-1.7% of global agricultural land. Although the large
potential of algae as a resource of biomass for energy is not
taken into consideration in this report, there are results that
demonstrate that algae can, in principle, be used as a renewable
energy source. From all of these perspectives, the evidence
gathered by the report leads to a simple conclusion: Biomass
potential for energy production is promising. In most cases,
shifting the energy mix from fossil fuels to renewables can now
be done using existing technology. Investors in many cases have
a reasonably short pay-back because of good availability of
lowcost biomass fuels. The latter is of course dependant on local
incentives, however. Overall, the future of bioenergy is also to a
large extent determined by policy. Thus, an annual bioenergy
supply covering global energy demand in 2050, superseding
1,000 EJ, should be possible with sufficient political
support(Global Potential of Sustainable Biomass for Energy
Svetlana Ladanai Johan Vinterbck SLU, Institutionen fr energi
och teknik Report 013 Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
ISSN 1654-9406 Department of Energy and Technology Uppsala
2009).
Climate Change Mitigation
http://www.unep.org//mi/Bioenergy/tabid/29345/Default.aspx
In a world facing growing energy demand, high oil prices and an
urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, bioenergy is an
essential energy option for a range of applications as part of a
mix that includes energy efficiency, renewable energy, and
changed patterns of production and consumption.
Since the discovery of fire, bioenergy - the use of organic

materials to provide heating, lighting and motive power - has

been one of the most dominant sources of energy worldwide.
Today, all forms of biomass together provide about 14% of the
world primary energy supplies, and represent about 80% of the
global renewable energy supply. In some developing countries the
share of biomass is as high as 90% of energy supply, with the use
of traditional bioenergy for cooking and heating prevailing. There
is increasing interest in developing and developed countries in
modern bioenergy or biofuels.
This is due to the many environmental, social and economic
benefits linked to bioenergy at times when carbon constraints and
high crude oil prices limit further growth in the use of fossil fuels.
At the same time, we have seen recent debate questioning that
these benefits will materialize and adding a whole range of
concerns to the list of things to be examined.
No energy source is without drawbacks - it is urgent to ensure
that we do not add new environmental and social problems while
trying to solve old ones. A comprehensive set of policies needs to
be put in place to assure that bioenergy is produced in manners
that ensure sustainability, ie. through an internationally agreed
system that guarantees that bioenergy commodities are of a
known pedigree and are produced sustainably, without destroying
the sector's prospects.
Achieving this delicate balance is a challenge and more work is
needed to understand the interrelations and how a policy mix
balancing the different interests, i.e. energy, agriculture,
environment, transport, trade, could look.
'Bioenergy yes or no' is not the question, but rather 'to what
extent bioenergy will be part of the energy mix' and 'how will the
pathways for sustainable bioenergy look like'.
To address these issues, UNEPs bioenergy programme is
structured around the following priority areas:
Sustainable Development impacts and synergies
Resource Assessment
Market creation and policy interventions
Business development and finance .

Outlook, Biofuels Roadmap 2050 and Technology Perspectives

2050, have now looked at the future from a different angle as
in Germany and the EU, it asked what future global development
of transport would be assuming that the 2C climate goal is met
(IEA 2011a-b + 2012a). The results of these studies give quite a
consistent picture: The demand for biofuels could increase tenfold
by 2050 versus 2010. 1st generation biofuels (biodiesel and
ethanol) would increasingly be replaced by 2nd generation
biofuels from 2030 onwards. The main growth area for biofuels
from that time onwards would be in commercial vehicles, shipping
and air transport; in parallel to that, the use of electric vehicles
would increase rapidly, and would partially replace biofuels in
passenger cars. The global biofuels demand up to 2050
determined by the IEA at some 30 EJ would utilise between 25%
and 50% of the globally available sustainable bioenergy potential.
Thus bioenergy would also be available for power and heating,
and could replace fossil fuels there.
BIOFUELS BOOM Let us start with a brief retrospect. In the
early 2000s there was broad consensus in Germany across all
political parties on rapid expansion of the use of biofuels;
automotive manufacturers, representatives of agriculture, media,
the petroleum industry, politicians and many groups in civil
society were advocating biofuels not only in Germany. No
wonder, because biofuels had a green image. They were
propagated as a key element in sustainable mobility and climate
change mitigation. Biofuels were to create a broader base in
energy sources for transport, especially road transport. Biofuels
were also to give new opportunities for jobs, income and
development for farmers in industrial and developing countries
particularly important at a time when world trade was being
liberalised and subsidies for agriculture and exports removed. The
result was strong support worldwide for the application and use of
biofuels, led by industrial countries with large vehicle fleets and
fuel markets such as the USA, the EU and Germany. Global
production of biofuels was multiplied several times in just a few
years, even if starting from a low baseline. The most significant
expansion was for biofuels in Germany, which is by far Europes
largest fuel market. Compared with an EU market share for

biofuels of only 1% in 2005, the German biofuel share was

already close to 4%. In 2007 it rose to as much as 7.4%, which
was the high point in biofuels development so far. In 2007
Germany set itself a target of 17% biofuels by 2020; in 2008 the
target was corrected just slightly to between 12 and 15% which
was still double the 2007 figure (Biofuels what role in the future
energy mix? Facts, trends and perspectives, http://s00.staticshell.com//shell-biofuels-facts-trends-p)
BIOENERGY FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
BIOFUEL/BIOGASPOWER/BIOCHAR FROM SISAL AGAVE AND
OPUNTIA:
Agave is a versatile plant well suited for millions of hectares of
wastelands in India. Agave-derived Renewable Fuels, Products
and Chemicals Biofuels Ethanol(1st and 2nd
generations),Biobutanol,biomethanol,biojet fiel,green
gasoline,biooil,biocrude,biodiesel,biocoal,biochar,H2,syngas,bioga
s,torrefied pellets and briquettes, drop-in fuels,pyrolysis oil,and
biochar. Bioproducts Agave syrup(kosher),Powder inulin,healthy
sweetners,far substitute(ice
cream),bioplastics,cellulose,paper,acids,CO,CO2,biopolymers,pres
sed
boards,geotextiles,fibres,phenols,adhesives,wax,antifreeze,film(fo
od wrap),fertilisers,insulating foam and panes,gel,pectin,nonwooven material9disposable diapers),mouldings,concrete
additive,food additives,composite materials,esters,substitute for
asbestos, in fiberglass,hydrocarbons,petrochemical precursors,
activated coal,secondary
metabolites,detergent,glycols,furfurans,resins,polyurethanes,epox
y,aromatics,olefins,paints and lubricants. Green electricity Pellets
and briquettes,syn-gas,biooil,biocoal,biogas,biochar,H2
cells,ammonia,and pyrolysis oil. Co2 Sequestering in the soil
Biochar. Agave: Competitive Advantages 1. Uses marginal dryland (41% of the Earths surface). 2. Most Efficient use of soil,
water and light. 3. Massive production. Year-round harvesting. 4.
Very high yields. Very low inputs. 5. Lowest cost of production
among energy crops. 6. Not a commodity, so prices are not
volatile. 7. Very versatile: biofuels, bioproducts, chemicals. 8. 100
M tonnes established in the 5 continents 9. Enhanced varieties

are ready. Mexico is pioneer in utilising every part of Agave for

commercial exploitation. Will India follow? Ours is an agrarian
economy. Let us utilise our resources fully so that there will be
more rural employment and climate change abatement by
providing CAM plants. Thanks to the wonders of nature,we have
Care-free growth,regenerative plants like Agave and Opuntia
which can be grown in these waste lands for Biofuel and Biogas
for Power generation. Mexico is leader in this.
Agave(Americana),Sisal Agave is a multiple use plant which has
10% fermentable sugars and rich in cellulose. The fibre is used in
rope making and also for weaving clothes in Philippines under the
trade name DIP-DRY. In Brazil a paper factory runs on sisal as
input. A Steroid HECOGENIN is extracted from this plant leaves.
Since on putrification,it produces methane gas, it can be cut and
used as input in biogas plants. Also in Kenya and Lesotho dried
pieces of Agave are mixed with concrete since it has fibres which
act as binding. Biofuel can be produced from Agave. Oxford
University study on agave-toethanol: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content... sustainability of largescale biofuel production has recently been called into question in
view of mounting concerns over the associated impact on land
and water resources. As the most predominant biofuel today,
ethanol produced from food crops such as corn in the US has
been frequently criticised. Ethanol derived from cellulosic
feedstocks is likely to overcome some of these drawbacks, but
the production technology is yet to be commercialised. Sugarcane
ethanol is the most efficient option in the short term, but its
success in Brazil is difficult to replicate elsewhere. Agaves are
attracting attention as potential ethanol feedstocks because of
their many favourable characteristics such as high productivities
and sugar content and their ability to grow in naturally waterlimited environments. Here, we present the first life cycle energy
and greenhouse gas (GHG) analysis for agave-derived ethanol.
The results suggest that ethanol derived from agave is likely to be
superior, or at least comparable, to that from corn, switchgrass
and sugarcane in terms of energy and GHG balances, as well as
in ethanol output and net GHG offset per unit land area. Our
analysis highlights the promising opportunities for bioenergy

production from agaves in arid or semi-arid regions with

minimum pressure on food production and water resources. [...]
the emissions of agave-derived fuel are estimated to stand at
around 35g of CO2 per megajoule from field-to-wheel, compared
to the 85g/MJ emitted when making corn ethanol. Dr Tan and his
colleagues found this energy balance is five units to one. This
compares favourably to the highly efficient sugarcane, and to the
less efficient corn as a source of biofuel. It also compares
favourably to sugarcane-derived ethanol for its ability to offset
greenhouse gas emissions, which we calculated at 7.5 tons of
CO2e per hectare per year taking into account the crops
complete lifecycle. The main drawback for wider application of
Biofuels is input. There was a big movement for biofuel from
Jatropha in India but in reality not much has been achieved.
Agave(Americana),Sisal Agave is a multiple use plant which has
10% fermentable sugars and rich in cellulose. The fibre is used in
rope making and also for weaving clothes in Philippines under the
trade name DIP-DRY. In Brazil a paper factory runs on sisal as
input. A Steroid HECOGENIN is extracted from this plant leaves.
Since on putrification,it produces methane gas, it can be cut and
used as input in biogas plants. Also in Kenya and Lesotho dried
pieces of Agave are mixed with concrete since it has fibres which
act as binding. Here is an excellent analysis on Agave as a
biofuel: Agave shows potential as biofuel feedstock,
Checkbiotech, By Anna Austin, February 11, 2010: Mounting
interest in agave as a biofuel feedstock could jump-start the
Mexican biofuels industry, according to agave expert Arturo Valez
Jimenez. Agave thrives in Mexico and is traditionally used to
produce liquors such as tequila. It has a rosette of thick fleshy
leaves, each of which usually end in a sharp point with a spiny
margin. Commonly mistaken for cacti, the agave plant is actually
closely related to the lily and amaryllis families. The plants use
water and soil more efficiently than any other plant or tree in the
world, Arturo said. This is a scientific fact they dont require
watering or fertilizing and they can absorb carbon dioxide during
the night he said. The plants annually produce up to 500 metric
tons of biomass per hectare, he added. Agave fibers contain 65
percent to 78 percent cellulose, according to Jimenez. With new

technology, it is possible to breakdown over 90 percent of the

cellulose and hemicellulose structures, which will increase ethanol
and other liquid biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass
drastically,he said. Mascoma is assessing such technology.
Another plant of great use is OPUNTIA for biogas production. The
cultivation of nopal((OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA), a type of cactus, is
one of the most important in Mexico. According to Rodrigo
Morales, Chilean engineer, Wayland biomass, installed on Mexican
soil, allows you to generate inexhaustible clean energy. Through
the production of biogas, it can serve as a raw material more
efficiently, by example and by comparison with jatropha. Wayland
Morales, head of Elqui Global Energy argues that an acre of
cactus produces 43 200 m3 of biogas or the equivalent in energy
terms to 25,000 liters of diesel. With the same land planted with
jatropha, he says, it will produce 3,000 liters of biodiesel. Another
of the peculiarities of the nopal is biogas which is the same
molecule of natural gas, but its production does not require
machines or devices of high complexity. Also, unlike natural gas,
contains primarily methane (75%), carbon dioxide (24%) and
other minor gases (1%), so it has advantages from the technical
point of view since it has the same capacity heat but is cleaner,
he says, and as sum datum its calorific value is 7,000 kcal/m3.
I had been advocating Biofuel from Agave and Opuntia besides
Biogas for power production. Unfortunately in India, we are in
most cases imitators but not innovators. First Box Type solar
cooker was from India. But often we adopt western designs.
Unless west recognizes, we dont recognize. I submitted a
research project on Biofuel from Agave and Biogas from Opuntia
to Government of India. If any industrial houses/organisations
are interested in promoting this in India I have collaboration with
leaders in the field from Mexico,UK.US and Australia. Here is
more important information: Agave\'s lower lignin content (down
to 2.4%) and higher cellulose content (62%) makes it ideal for
production of Biofuel. Agave can be intercropped with
Opuntia(Prickly Pear) which will be used to generate biogas for
renewable electricity generation. Biogas power generators from
KW size to MW size are commercially available from
Germany,China,Vietnam etc. The cost of production per Kwh with

Opuntia can be as low as US$ 3.00 per million BTU. On an annual

basis,one hectare of agave can yield 3 times the ethanol one
hectare of sugarcane in Brazil. Agave to Ethanol's CO2 e
emissions are lower than sugarcane and corn. Water - footprint -agave does not have any. Agave uses water,light and soil most
efficiently amongst plants/trees on earth. Agave is packed with
sugars, on an annual basis one hectare of agave yields upto 3
thousand gallons of ethanol(from its sap/juice) and 4000 gallons
of cellulosic ethanol. No other plant in the World has such
potential. I have a plan: We have SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES
(SEZ). Just like that we can start YOUTH ECONOMIC ZONES
(YEZ). Wastelands can be given to youth on a lease basis(about
10 acres per youth) and 1o such youth can form a co-operative.
They can cultivate fast growing multiple use plants like Agave and
Opuntia. Power generation plants can be set up at local level. This
way there will be decentralised power. This fits in Mahatma
Gandhiji\'s Concept of AGRO INDUSTRIES utilising local resources
and resourcefulness. Youth can be given short term training in
Agricultural operations. This way we can provide employment to
Youth besides bringing waste and vacant land under cultivation.
What is more, large plantations of Agave and Opuntia lead to
climate Stability as both are CAM plants. Crassulacean acid
metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon
fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to
arid conditions. In a plant using full CAM, the stomata in the
leaves remain shut during the day to reduce evapotranspiration,
but open at night to collect carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 is
stored as the four-carbon acid malate, and then used during
photosynthesis during the day. The pre-collected CO2 is
concentrated around the enzyme RuBisCO, increasing
photosynthetic efficiency. Developing countries like ours which
have millions of hectares of waste lands can transform rural
economy by going in for Agave and Opuntia plantations on a
massive scale. As one Exonomist put it, IT IS NOT THE LACK OF
RESOURCES BUT RESOURCEFULNESS THAT EXPLAINS WHY
PEOPLE PERISH IN THE MIDST OF PLENTY.
Situation of Jatropha in India. It is almost a failure. Here is an
interesting analysis on Jatropha in India. The Indian

experience The National, a newspaper published in Abu Dhabi in

its May 11, 2009 issue, published an article titled; Jatropha
seeds yield little hope for Indias oil dream. The article referred
to a project that was embarked upon by Professor R. R. Shah in
2005, when he sent a team to Navsari Agricultural Universitys
most parched and desolate strip of land, a farm in the Vyasa
district of Indias northern state of Gujarat. The team was
instructed to set up a model farm for jatropha, the hardy shrub
with oil-rich seeds that were then emerging as one of the most
promising alternatives to crude oil. At the time, jatrophas
promise seemed boundless. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the president of
the University, even used his presidential address that year to
extol the virtues of jatropha. Jatropha can survive in the most
arid wastelands, the story went. And so vast barren swathes of
India could be put to productive use. It is inedible so it would not
cause a backlash by competing with food crops, it said. The
government, according to the publication announced a scheme to
plant 13 million hectares, enough to generate nearly 500,000
barrels of jatropha oil per day. But as Prof Shah project in Vyasa
nears its end this month, the dean of agribusiness at Navsari is
sceptical.There is no yield he says. The literature said that with
dry land, after four years growth, you can get a yield of 1kg per
plant. For us, it is hardly 200g per plant. The consensus of the
team of experts after evaluating Indias jatropa projects from 22
agribusiness colleges across the country was that, indeed,
jatropha would grow on wasteland, but would give no appreciable
yield. This is not a wasteland crop. It needs fertiliser, water and
good management. Yes, it grows on wasteland, but it doesnt give
you any yield, the publication quotes Dr Suman Jha a researcher
on Prof. Shahs team as saying. If this observation is anything to
go by, then the persistent argument that jatropha could grow on
unproductive agriculture land should be looked at again. This
argument also challenges the assertion that investors are not a
threat to smallholder farmers,whose productive agriculture land
stands to be annexed by powerful multinationals for the
cultivation of biofuel crops. Non of the projects cited in The
National story, including D1 Oils, a London-listed biofuels
company, which has planted about 257,000 hectares of jatropha,

mainly in India was successful. The company moved far too early.
The report indicated that D1 is also having some nasty surprises
on yield. It said in 2006 that it aimed to produce 2.7 tonnes of oil
per hectare from areas planted with its new E1 variety, and 1.7
tonnes of oil from normal seed. That is equivalent to about 8
tonnes and 5 tonnes of seed per hectare respectively, or 3.5kg
and 2kg a plant. According to the report, Pradip Bhar, who runs
the companys D1 Williamson Magor Bio Fuel joint venture in
India north east, admits he has yet to achieve a fraction of that.
Hitting 500g is the challenge,he says. Mortality is quite high. But
if we can reach 500g in two years time, after that the bush will
continue to grow. Our expectation is that after the fourth year we
will hit 1kg. The 1.5kg mark we havent touched as yet.Those are
the results from the fertile state of Assam, According to the
report. The yields in other, dryer states such as Jharkand and
Orissa, he says, are much worse. Mr Bhar intends to hold the
area under cultivation steady at about 132,000 hectares this year.
As his plantations account for more than half of D1 Oils Jatropha
crop, the companys goal of planting 1 million hectares by 2011
looks like a tough one. He is concentrating instead on ensuring
his small contract farmers continue tending it for the two or three
years needed before it becomes profitable. This challenge is one
of the reasons why Prof Shah doubts the 500,000 hectares of
jatropha the Indian government estimates has been planted so
far. Only last month, he unsettled an annual meeting of the
universities researching jatropha and Indias National Oilseeds
and Vegetable Oil Development Board by reporting that only
5,000 hectares was actually under plantation in Gujarat, half the
official estimate, the report added. The Indian experience can
provide sufficient evidence for a careful, and thorough, costbenefit analysis of Ghanas jatropha dream, before the bubble
most probably bursts. From May 27 to 28, an international
conference on jatropha in Ghana would be considering the
benefits of the crop to the global economy. Hopefully, the
conference would not hype the benefits of jatropha and neglect
the possible pitfalls. An objective consideration of all the
possibilities, including that of possible failure, as the Indian
experience has shown so as to minimize any collateral damage in

the long term is necessary for the move forward. The companies
investing in jatropha and other non-food crops for the production
of biofuels including the ones from India, have lots of lessons to
learn from Indias example, so as not to repeat the mistake. See more at: http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com//updateany-lessons-for/ On the other hand I had been advocating
cultivating care-free growth plants like Agave and Opuntia in
Waste lands. Both are CAM Plants. Biofuel and Biogas and
subsequent power can be generated from both of these plants.
Both are CAM Plants.
There is no point in saying that Jatropha is being cultivated in
India since long. Nobody denies this. My criticism is that Jatropha
needs watering and a seasonal crop. It takes minimum 5 years to
yield the seeds. Because of Hype many people grabbed thousands
of acres of wastelands for lease. How many of them are actually
growing Jatropha is a million Dollar question. People want to grow
in Millions of hectares of Jatropha crop in
Ghana,Medagaskar,Tanzania,Kenya etc. But how much area is
covered by Jatropha? I have First hand information of Jatropha in
Madagascar. In India (AP),a Jatropha biodiesel extraction plant
was set up but was not a success as there was no regular supply
of Jatropha seeds. Elsewhere there is criticism on Jatropha as it
also requires watering like normal plants though in lesser
quantity: As of 2011 skepticism about the \"miracle\" properties
of Jatropha has been voiced. For example: \"The idea that
jatropha can be grown on marginal land is a red herring\",
according to Harry Stourton, business development director of
UK-based Sun Biofuels, which cultivates Jatropha in Mozambique
and Tanzania. \"It does grow on marginal land, but if you use
marginal land you\'ll get marginal yields,\" he said. An August
2010 article warned about the actual utility and potential dangers
of reliance on Jatropha in Kenya. Major concerns included its
invasiveness, which could disrupt local biodiversity, as well as
damage to water catchment areas. Jatropha curcas is lauded as
being sustainable, and that its production would not compete with
food production, but the jatropha plant needs water like every
other crop to grow. This could create competition for water
between the jatropha and other edible food crops. In fact,

jatropha requires five times more water per unit of energy than
sugarcane and corn. 1. Reuters: Biofuel jatropha falls from
wonder-crop pedestal, 21-1-2011 2. Friends of the Earth Europe:
Biofuel \'wonder-crop\' jatropha failing to deliver, 21-01-2011
3. \"Biodiesel wonder plant could spell doom for
Kenya\". naturekenya.org. Retrieved 2011-03-22. 4. Friends of
the Earth kicks against Jatropha production in Africa, Ghana
Business News, Friday, May 29, 2009, 5. Phil McKenna (June 9,
2009). \"All Washed Up for Jatropha? The draughtresistant \"dream\" biofuel is also a water hog\".Technology
Review. Retrieved 2011-10-11. In Summary I am not against
growing Jatropha but the cost benefit analysis need to be carried
out with respect to other options like Agave and Opuntia as far as
growing in waste lands is concerned.Both Agave and Opuntia are
regenerative plants. As such input is available round the year if
planted in different seasons.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP)
E-mail: anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com

Opuntia Biogas Plant

Picking Cactus Fruit - Wild Fruit Juice!! Prickly Pear Cactus or

Nopales ( Opuntia )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaqCjGC-JPI

How To Peel And Cook Fresh Nopales/cactus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Ufyv7pliY

How To Eat A Prickly Cactus Pear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsOix7iFvD0

Sisal Fiber

A field of Sisal on the Vipingo estate in Kenya.

Hacienda Petac: A Retrospective, Part II

The following is part two in a five part series about the formation
of Hacienda Petac and the historical context surrounding the
estates evolution.

Part II. THE HENEQUEN YEARS

By the latter half of the 19th century, Spanish colonization had

redefined the Yucatan. An agriculture-based structure of
international trade had been built and the hacienda system was
expanded to support it. Around 1870, the revival of an ancient
Mayan plant henequen brought an economic groundswell to

the region and redefined Hacienda Petac as a competitive

agricultural plantation.

A photochrome of a hacienda in 1884 by William Henry Jackson,

from the World Digital Library.
Often confused and used somewhat interchangeably, sisal (Agave
Sisalana in Latin) and henequen (Agave Fourcroydes) are two
closely related species of agave. Both native fibers of the Yucatan
Peninsula, they were harvested for centuries by the Maya for
roping, hammocks and rugs. Their resiliency and slight elasticity
made for an ideal material, as the fibers didnt snap under weight
or dry out in the heat.
Originally a Maya word, henequen is sometimes used colloquially
to describe either fiber. Meanwhile sisal, named for the Yucatecan
port from which it was exported, is often used to describe
henequen outside of the Yucatan, as the shipping crates for both
fibers feature the port city name Sisal stamped on the exterior.

Henequen plants, with taller trunks and thorns on the edges of

their leaves, were cultivated considerably more in the Yucatan.

In 1870, a surge of interest in the plant came from America,

where the agricultural economy was still in rapid expansion. A
cheap and durable substance for making rope and bailing twine
especially one that wouldnt hurt farm animals if swallowed was
vital.

Hacienda workers, harvesting henequen around 1922.

Due to the increased demand, the traditional Mayan methods of
hand scraping, soaking and retting failed to produce the
necessary amount of henequen fiber. The Yucatecan government
established a competition to encourage the development of a new
tool to extract the fiber faster. New large central fiber extraction
machines, or decorticators, were developed to remove the skin,
water, and pulp of the plants, extracting the fiber, letting it dry,
and allowing it to be processed into rope. Conveyor belts fed the
leaves into the machine where a series of bladed drums and highpressure bursts of water scraped the leaves. As henequen was
later found to be a good reinforcement agent in concrete, the
industry continued to boom, and a trade relationship with the
United States flourished.

Modern farmers dry henequen out in the sun just as hacienda

workers did hundreds of years ago.
Throughout the next several decades, the Yucatan reigned king.
For a period of about thirty years, it is believed that the Yucatans
henequen and sisal were responsible for ninety percent of the
rope and burlap bags used worldwide. After a while, though,
while henequen remained in the area, sisal was introduced and
quickly adopted in other tropical climates. Brazil, Florida, East
Africa and China all established competing markets. By the turn
of the century the price of the plant began to fall in the region.
Posted on January 21, 2014 in Culture, Hacienda, History of
the Yucatan

Comments
Anumakonda Jagadeesh Facebook 25 June 2015
Sisal Agave is a versatile plant.
Agave is a versatile plant well suited for millions of
hectares of wastelands in India. Agave-derived
Renewable Fuels, Products and Chemicals Biofuels
Ethanol(1st and 2nd
generations),Biobutanol,biomethanol,biojet fiel,green
gasoline,biooil,biocrude,biodiesel,biocoal,biochar,H2,syng
as,biogas,torrefied pellets and briquettes, drop-in
fuels,pyrolysis oil,and biochar. Bioproducts Agave

syrup(kosher),Powder inulin,healthy sweetners,far

substitute(ice
cream),bioplastics,cellulose,paper,acids,CO,CO2,biopolym
ers,pressed
boards,geotextiles,fibres,phenols,adhesives,wax,antifreez
e,film(food wrap),fertilisers,insulating foam and
panes,gel,pectin,non-wooven material9disposable
diapers),mouldings,concrete additive,food
additives,composite materials,esters,substitute for
asbestos, in fiberglass,hydrocarbons,petrochemical
precursors, activated coal,secondary
metabolites,detergent,glycols,furfurans,resins,polyuretha
nes,epoxy,aromatics,olefins,paints and lubricants. Green
electricity Pellets and briquettes,syngas,biooil,biocoal,biogas,biochar,H2 cells,ammonia,and
pyrolysis oil. Co2 Sequestering in the soil Biochar. Agave:
Competitive Advantages 1. Uses marginal dry-land (41%
of the Earths surface). 2. Most Efficient use of soil, water
and light. 3. Massive production. Year-round harvesting.
4. Very high yields. Very low inputs. 5. Lowest cost of
production among energy crops. 6. Not a commodity, so
prices are not volatile. 7. Very versatile: biofuels,
bioproducts, chemicals. 8. 100 M tonnes established in
the 5 continents 9. Enhanced varieties are ready. Mexico
is pioneer in utilising every part of Agave for commercial
exploitation. Will India follow? Ours is an agrarian
economy. Let us utilise our resources fully so that there
will be more rural employment and climate change
abatement by providing CAM plants. Thanks to the

wonders of nature,we have Care-free

growth,regenerative plants like Agave and Opuntia which
can be grown in these waste lands for Biofuel and Biogas
for Power generation. Mexico is leader in this.
Agave(Americana),Sisal Agave is a multiple use plant
which has 10% fermentable sugars and rich in cellulose.
The fibre is used in rope making and also for weaving
clothes in Philippines under the trade name DIP-DRY. In
Brazil a paper factory runs on sisal as input. A Steroid
HECOGENIN is extracted from this plant leaves. Since on
putrification,it produces methane gas, it can be cut and
used as input in biogas plants. Also in Kenya and Lesotho
dried pieces of Agave are mixed with concrete since it
has fibres which act as binding.
Biofuel/Biogaspower/Biochar can be produced from
Agave. Developing countries can go in for mass
cultivation of Sisal Agave along with Opuntia in waste
land which will also act as Carbon Sink.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India