MS Zambia Newsletter December 2008

Bio-fuels could threaten small-scale farmers

Bio-fuel production on a large commercial scale can jeopardise the livelihood of small scale farmers. A new forum for Civil Society Organisations in Zambia has been established to protect their rights.

by Carol Sørensen, MS Development Worker with Zambia Land Alliance

13. December 2008

On 4^th December I attended a meeting held to establish a civil society bio-fuels forum. This was a civil society response to the strong drive from the private sector to establish a bio-fuels industry in Zambia. As stated in the introduction, “There is no reason to assume that bio-fuels is automatically pro-poor or inclusive. Experience from Brazil, Tanzania, Indonesia and Mozambique indicate that biofuels is not necessarily pro poor and can even be exploitative. In several countries where the biofuel industry is established the feedstock production is done on massive commercial plantations.”

From the available documents, such as Government’s draft Bio-fuels Industry Strategy and the Energy Policy, it seems that Government is supportive of small scale out grower type bio-fuels schemes.  The Bio-fuel Association of Zambia (BAZ) which represents the bio-fuel industry in Zambia, is actively putting pressure on the government to produce policies, guidelines and funding facilities to help establish the industry.

Civil society also needs to engage with industry and government to ensure that there are measures in place that protect small-scale producers/ou t growers from exploitative practices such as unfair long-term contracts, and ensure that pricing and credit condition are equitable and transparent. It is crucial that policy protects women and children working in bio-fuel plantations, and that household food security is not compromised by the cultivation of bio-fuel feedstock. And it is important that the land rights of rural people are protected, and that any developments on rural land first and foremost benefit the local communities.

The bio-fuels industry is still in its infancy in Zambia with only one small commercial biodiesel plant (capacity 1 million litres per year). Civil society is taking the opportunity to engage with government and the industry during the early stages of development of this industry, so as to promote favourable and equitable changes, processes and policies for all stakeholders. The main goal is to ensure that the bio-fuels industry in Zambia is pro poor and indeed a driver of rural development.

It was agreed that the forum will establish a web-site, conduct research to be used in advocacy, develop a network locally and internationally, generate and provide information, and promote policy dialogue from the local level upward. The next meeting will be in February 2009, when the forum will be officially launched. Anyone interested in the bio-fuels debate can send an email to Carol Sørensen at carol.sorensen3@gmail.com